INDONESIA – The trade dispute between China and the United States has benefitted the Indonesian timber sector according to Purwadi Soeprihanto, Executive Director of Association of Indonesian Forest Concessionaires (APHI).

Soeprihanto said that, as of the end of the first quarter 2018, there was a 28% increase in processed wood shipments to the US as buyers there sought out suppliers to fill the gap left by China.

The shift by US importers to Indonesian suppliers, especially of plywood, is expected to continue for the rest of this year said Soeprihanto.

Trade analysts feel that, in the short term, the winners will be South East Asian exporters while the losers will be consumers in the US.