Wooden Products

Introduction

The wood-based manufacturing sector in Sri Lanka depends almost entirely on the local wood supply for raw materials.  The sector is diverse, consisting of a variety of industries including saw milling, furniture, construction, parquet flooring, wood-based panel products, and carvings.

Range of Products

Many  wood  products  are  exported  from  Sri  Lanka including  broom  handles  and  brush  blocks,  parquet  for flooring,  hardwood  plywood,  household  utility  items, wooden toys, carvings and ornaments, household furniture, office furniture, and furniture in ready-to-assembly form.  Other  miscellaneous  wood  products  exported include  table  lamps, skipping  rope  handles,  rulers,  and handicrafts.

The furniture industry mainly from wood includes household furniture (bed room & living room, kitchen furniture, garden furniture), office furniture (computer tables, office tables etc.), commercial and institutional furniture (furniture for hotels, schools, hospitals etc.)

Sri Lanka is competitive in exporting especially office furniture, bedroom furniture and kitchen furniture to the world market. Furniture in knockdown form/built in furniture is also exported according to buyer specifications. Sri Lanka is competent in producing such items to the high end of the market.

Supply Base

Sri Lanka wooden industry depends heavily on rubber wood. Treated rubber wood has become a more important source of raw material for the wooden industry. There is a heavy demand from international market for furniture made using FSC certified timber and few companies & plantations are obtained FSC certification at present. Local companies could also import timber for manufacturing purpose according to buyer requirements. Sri Lanka uses other kind of timber species too such as teak, mahogany for the furniture manufacturing industry. They are mostly from home gardens and well managed forests.

Export Market

The main markets for Sri Lankan wood exports are the United Kingdom, the United  States,  and India.