Indonesia plans to initiate a joint promotion with a number of stakeholders as part of an effort to expand the market share of Indonesian wood products in Germany. This was announced by Arif Havas Oegroseno, Indonesia’s ambassador in Germany, when opening a dialogue between Indonesian-German wood product business players facilitated by the Embassy.
“It is very important to carry out a joint campaign to stimulate the German market for Indonesian FLEGT-licensed products,” said Oegroseno, referring to the EU’s Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT).
Oegroseno also explained the cooperation programme between Indonesia and the University of Freiburg to study the market for industrial wood products in Europe and how Indonesian products can help satisfy the market demand.
Data from Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry shows that in 2021, the value of Indonesian wood product exports to Germany reached US$171.1 million, an increase of 23% from 2020. The main product exported was furniture generating $73.9m in earnings, followed by wood panels which generated $37.9m.
Nils Olaf Petersen, head of the Foreign Trade Department at GD Holz, the German Wood Trade Association, explained that his association would support activities to promote Indonesian wood products: “The market is very good and there is an increasing demand for wood products in Germany.” Petersen also explained that the market opportunities are widening with the cessation of timber imports from Belarus and Russia due to the invasion of Ukraine.
Source: ITTO
