The Malaysian Timber Council (MTC) is promoting the beauty of Malaysian timber at the NWFA Expo in Tampa, Florida, April 12-14. The organization was established in January 1992 to promote the development and growth of the Malaysian timber industry globally. MTC's said its objectives are to promote the Malaysian timber trade and develop the market for timber products globally, to promote the development of the industry by upgrading the industry's manufacturing technology base, to augment the supply of raw materials, to provide information services and to protect and improve the Malaysian timber industry's global image.

Here are some of the hardwood species that can be sourced from the region: 

Balau: Sapwood is lighter in color and well-defined from the heartwood which is yellow-brown, brown, or reddish-brown. The grain is interlocked, and the texture is moderately fine but even.

Dark Red Meranti: Sapwood is not clearly defined from the heartwood which is medium red to deep red brown. The grain is interlocked. The texture is moderately coarse but even.

Kempas: Sapwood is white or pale yellow in color. Heartwood is pinkish when fresh and darkens to bright orange-red or deep brown. The grain is interlocked, often very interlocked. The texture is coarse but even, except in areas where included phloem occurs.

Merbau: Sapwood is pale yellow in color. Heartwood is yellowish to orange, brown when fresh, darkening to brown or dark red-brown on exposure. The texture is coarse and even, with interlocked grain.

Red Balau: Sapwood is well-defined from the heartwood of purple-red or dark red-brown color. The grain is interlocked, often deeply interlocked. The texture is rather coarse and even.

Rubberwood: Sapwood is not differentiated from the heartwood, which is pale cream in color, often with a pink tinge. The texture is moderately coarse but even with straight to shallowly interlocked grain.

For more information, visit mtc.com.my.