Selected Malaysian Timber Species

From its humblest of beginnings in the last century when logs from the forests were pit-sawn manually to produce planks and boards, the Malaysian timber industry has evolved to become a vibrant multi-billion dollar industry. Malaysia is also well-known as a global leader in the production and trading of timber products.

See how Malaysian timber-based products up the luxury quotients of properties from around the world. Whether they are made predominantly using Malaysian timbers, or in combination with other timber species, these properties are an epitome of class and refined beauty, thanks to the wood in use.

Malaysia offers a wide range of timber products such as logs, sawntimber, mouldings, veneer, plywood, particleboard, medium density fibreboard, builders' carpentry and joinery items, wooden and rattan furniture. There is also a steady demand for items like picture frames, pre-finished parquetry, glued laminated timber and laminated veneer lumber. This section provides background information on several of these products.

Malaysian commercial hardwoods range from heavy and medium weight construction timbers to fine furniture woods which are appreciated for a variety of uses. They are available either as export grade lumber, according to the Malaysian Grading Rules, or as laminated scantlings, mouldings, builders' carpentry and joinery products, veneer, plywood and other panel products. Twenty of the more popular Malaysian species are:

  • Balau (Shorea spp.)
  • Bintangor (Calophyllum spp.)
  • Chengal (Neobalanocarpus heimii)
  • Dark Red Meranti (Shorea spp.)
  • Gerutu (Parashorea spp.)
  • Kasai (Pometia spp.)
  • Kelat (Syzygium spp.)
  • Keledang (Artocarpus spp.)
  • Keruing (Dipterocarpus spp.)
  • Mengkulang (Heritiera spp.)
  • Merbau (Intsia spp.)
  • Nyatoh (Palaquium spp.)
  • Kembang Semangkok (Scaphium spp.)
  • Kempas (Koompassia malaccensis)
  • Red Balau (Shorea spp.)
  • Yellow Meranti (Shorea spp.)
  • Sepetir (Sindora spp.)
  • Mersawa (Anisoptera spp.)
  • Merpauh (Swintonia spp.)
  • Rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis)


The comprehensive technical properties of these timber species and more are detailed here.

For samples of exciting projects using Malaysian timbers, please check out our Projects section.