Wednesday, 18 March 2026

Author: Alvin Tang

China’s sawnwood imports plunge in 2025

KUCHING: China’s imports of sawnwood recorded a double-digit decline in the first six months of 2025 following a slump in real estate and construction activities, impacting major supplying countries including Malaysia. According to China Customs data cited by the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO), the country imported 12.15 million cubic

RM210 mil manufacturing plant planned in Sarawak

KUCHING: South Korean company, Hanil Electric Co Ltd, plans to invest in a manufacturing plant in Sarawak, with estimated total investment of US$50 million (RM210.7 million). Hanil Electric’s principal activity is manufacturing of pumps and water circulation systems, household goods/electrical appliances and baby products. Under a memorandum of understanding (MoU)

Shin Yang expands into automotive sector

KUCHING:Shin Yang Group Bhd (SYGroup) has transferred 55 million treasury shares as part payment to the vendors who sold the Toyota dealership business in Sarawak,Sabah and Labuan Terrority to the company last year. T he vendors are Shin Yang Holdings Sdn Bhd,KTE Motors Sdn Bhd,Ling Chiong Sing and Dwi Bumijaya

Malaysia timber output declines in July

KUCHING: Malaysia has continued to report declining volumes in both timber harvesting and primary processing industries’ production in July 2025. This is because the market demand for the country’s timber sector remained weak, according to Global Timber Index (GTI) – Producers Report. “In July 2025, the GTI-Malaysia index registered 29.6

Indonesia promotes forestry into carbon trade

KUCHING: Indonesia is promoting the integration of the forestry sector into the country’s carbon trading scheme as part of the efforts to rehabilitate degraded land and reduce deforestation. The country has some 6.5 million hectares of degraded land in need of rehabilitation, according to Indonesian Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni.

Harbour-Link optimistic on shipping outlook

KUCHING: Harbour-Link Group Bhd is upbeat about the performance of its container shipping business going forward after delivering strong profits in the financial year ended June 30, 2025 (FY2025). In FY2025, Harbour-Link’s shipping and marine segment chalked up a 64 per cent jump in after-tax profit to about RM107.3 million

OM Holdings’ profits hit by weaker FeSi prices

KUCHING: OM Holdings Limited’s (OMH’s) profits in first half of 2025 (1H2025) have been eroded by lower prices of ferrosilicon (FeSi) due to weaker demand from the downstream steel market. Company’s earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation fell sharply to USD19.1 million (1H2024: USD46.6 million) despite a marginal revenue

Kim Hin seeks extension to meet shareholding rule

KUCHING: Kim Hin Industry Bhd has submitted an application to Bursa Securities for an extension of time to rectify the company’s shortfall in public shareholding spread. The ceramic tiles manufacturer said the application for time extension submitted on August 25 is to allow sufficient time for the company to formulate

SCIB makes second offer of share option plan

KUCHING: Sarawak Consolidated Indusdtries Bhd (SCIB) has announced making a second offer of share option plan (SOP) options under the company’s long term incentives plan (LTIP) totalling more than 64.37 million options. The number of options offered include to director Chiew Jong Wei on August 28, 2025 which was about

Global wood panel demand climbs again

KUCHING: The international demand for wood-based panels has risen further last month, greatly benefitting manufacturers and suppliers in pilot countries monitored by International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO). In July, the Global Timber Index-Woodbased Panel (GTI-WBP) Index registered 59.3 per cent, up 1.6 percentage points from June, and above the critical