KUCHING, Jan. 22 -- Sarawak's total export value of timber and timber products dropped from RM3.9 billion in 2022 to RM3.1 billion in 2023, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said tonight.

He said the export value of logs was RM559 million or 18 per cent of the overall export value while the export of timber products was RM2.6 billion.

"For Sarawak, Japan is still the largest market contributing about 53 per cent or RM1.7 billion export earnings in 2023," he said in his speech at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) and Malaysian Panel-Products Manufactures' Association.

His speech was read by Deputy Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and...