{"id":24663,"date":"2026-03-03T22:18:50","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T12:18:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/?p=24663"},"modified":"2026-03-03T22:18:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T12:18:52","slug":"new-cites-push-on-tropical-timber-could-hit-aussie-builders-hip-pocket","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/new-cites-push-on-tropical-timber-could-hit-aussie-builders-hip-pocket\/","title":{"rendered":"New CITES Push on Tropical Timber Could Hit Aussie Builders’ Hip Pocket"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Building materials could become much more expensive if tropical timbers from Southeast Asia, used in flooring, plywood, decking, and furniture, are added to the species protected by CITES. The wood in question is Keruing<\/a>\u2014one of hardwood’s best-kept secrets\u2014with the tropical species (native to Indonesia and Malaysia) sold extensively in Australia’s building merchant network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Keruing timber is low maintenance, hardwearing and ideal for outdoor furniture use,” according to WoodSolutions – Australia’s go-to resource for technical information<\/a>, with the strong and durable wood used in various applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“Common uses include internal flooring, protected framing and boards, internal joinery and mouldings, lining, panelling and framework. (Whilst) preservative-treated material is (also) used for poles, piles, sleepers and cross-arms. It is often used as a cheaper alternative to oak for heavy construction, decking, vehicle building and sleepers, and in plywood.”<\/p>\nKeruing is a hardwood native to South East Asia and used in a wide variety of internal and external applications – according to WoodSolutions.
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Used by the US Military in floorboards, tanks, and vehicles, the Malaysian supply chain is concerned that the United States (and the European Union) are behind a renewed push to add the timbers to the CITES Appendix II list. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The EU tried to list Shorea under CITES at CoP20. It failed. Malaysia says the real motive isn't conservation \u2014 it's protectionism. Now the industry is bracing for round two.

Via @DailyExpressMY \u2192 For more: https:\/\/t.co\/6k9aHLQ6uZ<\/a>#CITES<\/a> #TropicalTimber<\/a> #Shorea<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/D36PYlZBwo<\/a><\/p>— WoodCentralAu (@WoodCentralAU1) March 3, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>