ThailandThailandCountry ReportCountry Report

The State of Utilization of Tropical TimberFrom Fast-growing Plantations

ByMr.Jaran Thongsatit

Mr.Tinnakorn Piriyayotha

Forest Research OfficeRoyal Forest Department

Workshop on Further Processing of Tropical Timber in the Asia-Pacific Region

- 912 2002Gyeongju, Korea July,

I. IntroductionI. Introduction

• Thailand locates in mid mainland Southeast Asia Forestry sector has developed in fairly defined stages.

• The National Forest Policy determined 40% of total country area (51.3 mil. hectares) will be forest

• So far, the remaining, to reforestation about 7.5 mil. hectares

Forest sector enrollment :• The promotion on private sector on forest plantati

on has been created in National Economic & Social development plan since 1987.

Public and Private engagement :• Early 1990 , the role of the private sector forestry

has been recognized.• Forest zoning , has been directed by having at leas

t 40 % of the country.

Logging BanLogging Ban

• The government promulgated a The government promulgated a total ban on logging over the total ban on logging over the

country in 1989.country in 1989.

II. Forest ResourcesII. Forest Resources

• 1. Natural forest1. Natural forest

• 2. Rubberwood plantation2. Rubberwood plantation

• 3. Forest plantation3. Forest plantation

• 3.1 Eucalyptus3.1 Eucalyptus

• 3.1.1 Eucalyptus from the government project3.1.1 Eucalyptus from the government project

• 3.1.2 Eucalyptus by the private sector’s industry3.1.2 Eucalyptus by the private sector’s industry

• 3.2 Teak3.2 Teak

Under the National Reserved Forest Act (Article 20) More number of private sector involved in forest plantation

Main farm size not more than 2,000 rai (320 hectare) Range between 500-1,000 rai (80-160 hectare)

Private Company State Government Total Total sector Enterprise office upto No. Rai No. Rai No. Rai No. Rai No. Rai 1994 86 33,185 47 115,660 37 74,170 10 5,180 180 228,195

Note 6.25 rai = 1 hectare Total Forest Area = 13 mil. hectare Rubber plantation = 1.9 mil. hectare

Rubber plantationRubber plantation

• Area of Rubber plantation , second ranking Area of Rubber plantation , second ranking of the world from Indonesia of the world from Indonesia

• Export latex 2 million tons/year, the world’s Export latex 2 million tons/year, the world’s first ranking.first ranking.

• The Rubber Replanting Aid Fund pay for The Rubber Replanting Aid Fund pay for 6,800 baht/rai6,800 baht/rai** ($ 944.44 per hectare) for ($ 944.44 per hectare) for

replanting.replanting.

• The industry use the Rubberwood to produce

furniturefurniture particleboardparticleboard

MDFMDF parquetparquet frameframe

kitchenwarekitchenware spoolspool woodfuelwoodfuel

toystoys

III Plantation Establishment

To focus adequate supplies o f raw wood materials

- Re Afforestation Act submi t in 1992

This key stone of legislation, numb er of resolutions have been passed by the Council of Ministers concern ing economic reforestation in and a

round. i Classification of the National

Reserved Forest Area ii Renting of degraded forest la

nds (not exceeding 50 rai) by private sector iii Forest Industry Organization ;

play role to encourage the private sector to invest.

EucalyptusEucalyptus

• The planting achieved the target of The planting achieved the target of 108,800 hectares during 1994-1996108,800 hectares during 1994-1996 ..

• The extension target is 1.28 million The extension target is 1.28 million hectares, so far the planted areas was hectares, so far the planted areas was

successfully reforested only 0.37 million successfully reforested only 0.37 million hectares. hectares.

• Teak is popular for planting for 88,000 Teak is popular for planting for 88,000 hectares during 1994-1996.hectares during 1994-1996.

Teak

Model of Wood Utilization

Log

Branches

Stump/Root

Sawmill

Peeling/Slicing

Lumber

Drying

Preservation

Furniture

Constructed lumber

Household utensils

Lapwood

Flooring/Parquet

Fuelwood

Chipper

Chipwood Carved wood

Veneer

PlywoodCore/Veneer

residue

ParticleboardCement-bonded Particleboard

Defibrator

Pulp & PaperFiberboard

Wood Chemical

Wood-wool CementboardPole/

Post

IIvv. Processing and Utilization. Processing and Utilization

• 1. Primary processing1. Primary processing

• 1.1 Sawing1.1 Sawing

• 1.2 Wood preservation1.2 Wood preservation

Small logSmall log of Rubberwood and wood from Small log of Rubberwood and wood from

plantation, which have the different qualification plantation, which have the different qualification from the wood of natural forest such as growth stress from the wood of natural forest such as growth stress

of small wood due to twist and split of lumber. of small wood due to twist and split of lumber. Small log, diameter 6-9 ins., recovery rate 25-35 %, Small log, diameter 6-9 ins., recovery rate 25-35 %, which bow and split lumber, wood working remain which bow and split lumber, wood working remain

yield 20-25 % of log.yield 20-25 % of log.

Sawing

Chain sawChain saw

Circular sawCircular saw with motor of plow machinewith motor of plow machine

Oscillating sawOscillating saw

Band sawBand saw

To decrease wood failure of small log from growth stress.

Balance cuttingBalance cutting

• The technique of sawing for small log The technique of sawing for small log with balance cutting, sawing right and with balance cutting, sawing right and

left distance equal from pith together by left distance equal from pith together by twin band saw to release the stress of log twin band saw to release the stress of log equal opposite side can make lumber be equal opposite side can make lumber be

straight, no twist. straight, no twist.

• Saw types are balance saw, gang saw, or Saw types are balance saw, gang saw, or sash gang sawsash gang saw

Piling

• Piling is important for quality control of Piling is important for quality control of lumber without twist, bow, and end split. lumber without twist, bow, and end split.

• Piling is done by putting weight on top of Piling is done by putting weight on top of pile . pile .

Wood preservationWood preservation

• Non chemical treatmentNon chemical treatment

• Non-pressure treatmentNon-pressure treatment• 1) Brush or spray treatment1) Brush or spray treatment

• 2) Dipping2) Dipping• 3) Soaking3) Soaking

•

Chemical treatmentChemical treatment

Vacuum and pressure treatmentVacuum and pressure treatment

DryingDrying• 1 Seasoning or air drying1 Seasoning or air drying

• for construction e.g. pole, post, and piling of log before for construction e.g. pole, post, and piling of log before wood chipping.wood chipping.

• For small log, more than 6 ins., diameter, seasoning in For small log, more than 6 ins., diameter, seasoning in dry season take time 4-6 months for decrease moisture content dry season take time 4-6 months for decrease moisture content

into 25-30 %. into 25-30 %.

• Wood diameter more than 30 cm. should be lumbering Wood diameter more than 30 cm. should be lumbering before seasoning. before seasoning.

• 2 Kiln drying2 Kiln drying• Kiln drying can be control temperature and relative Kiln drying can be control temperature and relative humidity for dried wood and rapidity more than seasoning 10-humidity for dried wood and rapidity more than seasoning 10-

30 times.30 times.

DryingDryingWood drying should be used seasoning Wood drying should be used seasoning for decreasingfor decreasing moisture content in wood lesser than 30 moisture content in wood lesser than 30 % for 1 month,% for 1 month,

then drying with kiln drying for 1 month.then drying with kiln drying for 1 month.Lumber should be control drying at surface, not rapidity Lumber should be control drying at surface, not rapidity

dried. dried. If moisture content in wood and surface of wood are If moisture content in wood and surface of wood are

difference moredifference more than 5 %, wood stress due to wood than 5 %, wood stress due to wood failure, e.g. bow,failure, e.g. bow, case hardening, and honeycombing. case hardening, and honeycombing.

IIvv. Processing and Utilization. Processing and Utilization

• 2. Secondary processing2. Secondary processing

• 2.1 Furniture manufacturing2.1 Furniture manufacturing

• 2.2 Wood-based panels 2.2 Wood-based panels manufacturingmanufacturing

• 2.3 Pulp and paper manufacturing2.3 Pulp and paper manufacturing

• 2.4 Charcoal production2.4 Charcoal production

FurnitureFurniture

Wood-based panelsWood-based panels

• - Veneer and plywood- Veneer and plywood• - Composite board- Composite board• - Fiberboard- Fiberboard• - Particleboard- Particleboard• - Wood cement board- Wood cement board

Veneer and plywood

• The shortage of large log, due to some The shortage of large log, due to some factory changed peeling machine from 8 ft. factory changed peeling machine from 8 ft. to 4 ft. length and slicing machine for the to 4 ft. length and slicing machine for the

thinnest veneer, 0.1 mm. thickness. thinnest veneer, 0.1 mm. thickness.

• Some factory imported log for veneer Some factory imported log for veneer production and re-export or overlay on production and re-export or overlay on

wood products of factory. wood products of factory.

Composite board

• Flooring (parquet and mosaic parquet) and block Flooring (parquet and mosaic parquet) and block board are common technology. board are common technology. • by finger joint technique. by finger joint technique.

• Raw materials are Teak and Eucalyptus from Raw materials are Teak and Eucalyptus from plantation, rejected wood in flooring production 20-plantation, rejected wood in flooring production 20-

25 % and 50-60 %, respectively.25 % and 50-60 %, respectively.• Colour coating need to production because of still Colour coating need to production because of still

sapwood (cream colour), that difference from sapwood (cream colour), that difference from heartwood (dark colour).heartwood (dark colour).

FiberboardFiberboard

• Hardboard and Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF). Hardboard and Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF).

• All of Hardboard in Thailand produce with wet All of Hardboard in Thailand produce with wet process. process.

• Raw materials of Hardboard are Eucalyptus and wood Raw materials of Hardboard are Eucalyptus and wood from plantation e.g. KraTinTaPa (Acacia sp.) and also from plantation e.g. KraTinTaPa (Acacia sp.) and also

Bagasse. Bagasse.

• Raw materials of MDF are Rubberwood, Eucalyptus, Raw materials of MDF are Rubberwood, Eucalyptus, KraTinTaPa, and Bagasse (MDF, which Bagasse used KraTinTaPa, and Bagasse (MDF, which Bagasse used

the first factory of the world).the first factory of the world).

ParticleboardParticleboard

• **Particleboard used as raw material for construction Particleboard used as raw material for construction and furniture production because of decreasing of solid and furniture production because of decreasing of solid

wood and logging ban in 1989. Due to particleboard wood and logging ban in 1989. Due to particleboard used increasing in wood working.used increasing in wood working.

• Extruded pressed processing used only one factory. Extruded pressed processing used only one factory. Another factory used platen pressed processing. Another factory used platen pressed processing.

• Raw materials are Rubberwood, Eucalyptus and Raw materials are Rubberwood, Eucalyptus and Bagasse. 3 layers sheet, 12 and 16 mm. thickness, is Bagasse. 3 layers sheet, 12 and 16 mm. thickness, is

characteristically of particleboard in Thailand. characteristically of particleboard in Thailand.

Wood cement board

• Raw material of Wood Wool Cement Board is SomPhong (Tetrameles nudiflora

R.Br.), import from Myanmar, today.

Wood Cement Particleboard produced from Eucalyptus.

Wood Cement Fiberboard, plank for wall house, produced from cement approximately 90 % and

recovered paper approximately 10 % with mixed a little asbestos.

Pulp and paper

• Raw materials ; non-wood (e.g. Straw, Bamboo, Raw materials ; non-wood (e.g. Straw, Bamboo, Kenaf and Bagasse) and wood (Eucalyptus). Kenaf and Bagasse) and wood (Eucalyptus).

• That is short fiber, so Thailand must imported That is short fiber, so Thailand must imported long fiber and also recovered paper.long fiber and also recovered paper.

• All pulp factories produce with chemical process All pulp factories produce with chemical process except one factory produced pulp with except one factory produced pulp with

semichemical process yield approximately 45 %. semichemical process yield approximately 45 %.

• The products are kraft paper 50 % and other The products are kraft paper 50 % and other papers : printing-writing paper, paperboard, papers : printing-writing paper, paperboard,

newsprint paper, household and sanitary paper newsprint paper, household and sanitary paper etc.etc.

• charcoal• Each year, Thailand has consumption charcoal

3 million kg. Demand of charcoal for export is large scale.

Rubberwood, the world market called it “White Teak”

Eucalyptus sp., from Australia, used in pulp and paper industry.

Teak from plantation will be the important raw materials again in the near future.

V. Markets for Plantation Timber Products

• The averaged increasing of Thailand’s population is 1.2 % per year. In 1985, Thailand has 53 million populations and increased to 61

million in 1999, • The country’s capacity to produce and reforest

cannot meet the demand so the price of wood and wood products still high.

Eucalyptus wood marketing

Eucalyptus aged 5 years wood production about 16.65 tons/rai. The total capital were 8,140 baht/rai.

The selling price of log was 850 baht/ton, thus, the income was 14,152 baht and the net profit was 6,012 baht,

that the averaged income per year total 1,200 baht/rai.

The price of the thinning teak wood

• at girth 30-140 cm. and 2-6 m. length will cost 2,100-18,400 baht/cu.m.

V Markets for Plantation Timber Products

Problems related to woo d market

- Absence of local & Central market

- Legislation Laws - Investment in Forest

Plantations

VI. Overview and Conclusion

• THAILAND

• area 51,311,502 hectares

• population 61.7 million.

• Forest area 12,972,200 hectares (25.28 %)

• to increase forest lands to 40 %

• wood consumption is 0.2 cu.m./year/person or 12.34 million cu.m./year.

• logging ban in 1989,

• imported wood and wood products over than $ 800 million.

Forest areas about 13 mil. Hectares

Forest Plantation 390,000 hectares

Projected plan 520,000 hectares

RFD has launched many projects to increase

forest land to 40% of the whole country

(51.5 mil. hectare)

• Thailand has a privilege for plantation due to its location.

• Only 4-6 years for fast growing species and 30-40 years for normal

trees, harvesting can be done

• The government has also launched a campaign namely “One village, one product” to promote

indigenous knowledge to create their own specific product.

• Constraints caused by the Private Sector

- Lack in-depth knowledge of plantations,

processing & market

- Budget support

- working & methodologies to co-operate

together

Best regards

THAILAND