Gurjan based commercial face veneer prices have reached to a new all-time high point. The price for Gurjan is now being quoted 10 percent higher than last year peak of 42. The availability of Gurjan timber in Myanmar does not look promising hence auction prices have gone far beyond affordability. The latest timber auction prices of logs ranged between 1200 to 1350 $ per hoppus ton (HT) in Myanmar which is probably not leaving any hope for availability of face at affordable price. The Ply Reporter is getting reports from the ground that Plywood industry in North is all set to adopt face veneer of other species in its premium grade plywood that means there would be a look out for sustainable options without comprising the quality of finished products.
At present, the Plywood industry’s few varieties in face veneers e.g PQ, Okume, Recon, Makai etc of which PQ and Okume is fast emerging as the only contender left. Although industry has been using these alternate options with time being but the preference of Gurjan was never forgotten. Now with each new auction selling at higher price and lower quantity availability, Industry is gearing up to implement complete PQ and Okume switch from Gurjan. According to timber suppliers abroad, PQ, Okume and Recon are the only sustainable options for face veneer needs in India.
It is known fact that Indian plywood trade having special love for Gurjan face veneers that gave way to similar kind of face veneers from Indonesia. Last year Indonesia face veneer was used by many but the quality of Indonesian face did not match with Gurjan Face. Now around 75 percent of plywood, board and door manufacturers have shifted to Non-Gurjan face veneers which seems to be finally taken over by two species, PQ from Guyana and Okume from Gabon. This news finds the plywood Industry, ready and set to accept Okume face Veneer as preferred option in FY 2018-19. At Ply Reporter, we believe that Gurjan face veneer will shrink to merely 10 percent market share by next year which still holds 30-35 percent of market share.