Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Malaysia has become China’s fastest-growing supplier of fibreboard, with a remarkable 683% increase in exports during the first nine months of 2025. According to data from China Customs, Malaysia’s shipments reached 1,400 tonnes, marking the largest increase of any supplying country. This surge is part of a broader trend as China reshapes its panel-product supply chains and ramps up fibreboard production, a crucial component for its expanding manufacturing sector.
This spike in Malaysian exports coincides with a 16% year-on-year increase in China’s total fibreboard imports, which rose to 45,000 tonnes. These figures underscore China’s growing demand for fibreboard, now representing up to 50% of the global supply. The surge signals a recovery in demand from China’s downstream manufacturers, who are driving the demand for raw materials, including fibreboard.
Malaysia’s rise as a leading supplier of fibreboard to China is a significant development in global trade. In just nine months, the country has surpassed expectations with a 683% increase in shipments. This growth dwarfs other countries that supply fibreboard to China. Malaysia’s performance comes amid increased demand for wood-based products in various sectors such as construction and furniture. The country’s ability to meet this growing demand is positioning it as a key player in the global fibreboard market.
Other countries have experienced growth as well, though none have matched Malaysia’s astonishing expansion. New Zealand, traditionally a dominant supplier, saw a 95% increase in its exports, reaching 22,000 tonnes. This makes New Zealand the second-largest exporter of fibreboard to China. However, Thailand and Germany both experienced declines. Thailand’s shipments fell 26% to 5,000 tonnes, and Germany’s exports dropped 20%, totalling 4,400 tonnes. Despite these declines, Spain showed a positive trend, with a 34% increase in exports to 1,500 tonnes.
While global fibreboard exports to China continue to grow, Malaysia’s extraordinary acceleration stands out, and the country is now a key supplier for the Asian powerhouse.
China is not only increasing its fibreboard imports but is also expanding its fibreboard exports to other regions. Data from the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) revealed that China’s fibreboard exports surged by 35% to 2.62 million tonnes in the January to September 2025 period. This robust growth was driven by demand in key markets such as Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas.
Vietnam emerged as China’s largest market for fibreboard exports, with imports jumping 126% to 501,000 tonnes. Other countries such as Saudi Arabia, Mexico, United Arab Emirates, and Canada also saw double-digit increases in fibreboard imports from China. The surge in exports to these regions reflects the increasing global demand for Chinese-made fibreboard.
However, not all markets saw growth. Exports to the United States and Nigeria softened, with shipments to the US dropping by 9% and to Nigeria falling 1%.
Despite strong performance in fibreboard exports, China’s wooden furniture sector continues to face challenges. Export receipts for China’s wooden furniture fell by 7% in the first nine months of 2025, totalling US$16.69 billion. A major contributor to the downturn was a 18% drop in exports to the United States, China’s largest market for wooden furniture, which totalled US$4.24 billion.
However, China’s wooden furniture exports maintained strong sales to other destinations. The United Kingdom and Australia saw significant growth, with China exporting US$1.2 billion worth of wooden furniture to the UK and US$1.1 billion to Australia. Malaysia also remained a significant buyer of Chinese-made furniture, importing US$445 million worth of goods, reflecting an 18% increase year-on-year.
Despite these setbacks, China’s ability to maintain a solid presence in global markets demonstrates its resilience in the face of challenges within the wooden furniture industry.
China’s imports of wooden furniture also declined in the first nine months of 2025, with the total falling by 6% to US$461 million. Despite the decrease, Italy continued to be the largest supplier, accounting for 46% of China’s total imports of wooden furniture. However, Italy’s shipments to China fell 9% to US$214 million. Other countries like Germany, Vietnam, and France also saw a drop in their export figures.
Interestingly, smaller suppliers managed to buck the trend, with imports rising from countries like Thailand, Slovakia, and Indonesia. This shows that while some traditional suppliers are struggling, new suppliers are managing to secure a foothold in the competitive Chinese market.
Malaysia’s remarkable growth in fibreboard exports to China is a reflection of the country’s expanding role in the global furniture and panel-product industries. The 683% increase in shipments highlights Malaysia’s growing influence and responsiveness to global demand for fibreboard. While other countries like New Zealand and Spain have seen growth, none have matched Malaysia’s acceleration.
At the same time, China’s fibreboard exports and wooden furniture market show a mix of challenges and opportunities. Despite facing setbacks in furniture exports, the demand for fibreboard and furniture components remains strong in international markets, indicating that the country’s manufacturing sector continues to evolve.
As China pushes forward with its ambitious fibreboard production plans, Malaysia’s position as a key supplier of raw materials will only become more important. Both countries are shaping the future of the global furniture and panel-product markets, with Malaysia playing an increasingly vital role in meeting China’s growing demand.
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Tags: fibreboard, fibreboard trade, global furniture market, Malaysia China trade, Malaysia fibreboard exports, wooden furniture exports
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