Importing timber to Thailand

[Smithson]

Is importing timber to Thailand a viable idea if building or even for selling. The various options I was thinking about include treated timbers, which termites won't touch and second hand timber, which is extremely cheap in Australia (I think it's illegal to build in Aust with 2nd hand timber).

Considering high price of timber here and the low cost of sea freight this might be worthwhile. Also, Australia has a free trade agreement with Thailand, so customs 'formalities' might be a bit simpler (although this may be just wishful thinking).

[peterpan]

There is a yard down the road from us in Nong Han that specialises in Imported timber as well as stuff from Lao he imports a lot of New Zealand Pinus Radiata, all properly dried and tanalised. Its good to se racks of nice straight timber. I asked him about importing soem Aust NSW red wood, he said he can do,
Prices seem OK

[Smithson]

There is a yard down the road from us in Nong Han that specialises in Imported timber as well as stuff from Lao he imports a lot of New Zealand Pinus Radiata, all properly dried and tanalised. Its good to se racks of nice straight timber. I asked him about importing soem Aust NSW red wood, he said he can do,
Prices seem OK

Where is Nong Han? I'm particularly interested in timber decking for outside, because concrete will absorb too much heat if it's exposed to sun thru the day. Besides timber looks a heap nice.My research on timber prices has only gone so far as to understand that it's way to expensive for me to afford. So I'd be interested to learn more. Maybe there's even second hand teak that could be imported?

[phunphin]

Do they have 2x4 suitable for framing??.

[Gallowspole]

Try here for import tariff information

>> Thai Customs <<

[Smithson]

Do they have 2x4 suitable for framing??.

Do you mean treated? If untreated it's available in Bkk. With the price of wood being so high, you'd think it was worth their while to have it treated or is it possible to treat it yourself.

[dirtydog]

Probably problems of bringing treated wood into Thailand, how you going to explain poisonous wood to them, ie arsenic soaked wood

[Panda]

A lot of good old hardwood from demolition sites gets dumped here in Australia because the cost of labour to recycle it is excessive.

I wonder if it would be viable to ship demolition timber in bulk "as is" condition and have it denailed sorted and stacked using the cheaper labour in Thailand?

[Smithson]

^ Surprised they would be so fussy, considering they make asbestos roof sheeting. Australia now produces treated pine without arsenic.

[Thetyim]

^
It's not asbestos

[Smithson]

A lot of good old hardwood from demolition sites gets dumped here in Australia because the cost of labour to recycle it is excessive.

I wonder if it would be viable to ship demolition timber in bulk "as is" condition and have it denailed sorted and stacked using the cheaper labour in Thailand?

This is exactly what I've been thinking. Organizing things in Australia wouldn't be cheap (considering the cost of labor you've already mentioned). Getting it thru customs in Thailand would be interesting, but Australia has a free trade agreement with Thailand.

Sending by container is really cheap. Old houses are pretty much given away in Australia to the demolishers. This is a stark contrast to Thailand where they cost a mint.

[Panda]

Getting a tangled mess into a container could be a problem.
There would probably have to be some rough sorting (maybe using a backhoe with a grab bucket), and lashed into bundles using cable or chains.

When I see some of the quality hardwood being buried at the dump it almost make me want to cry. Some of that wood will be good for another 1,000 years if its kept out of the weather. But old seasoned hardwood is a devil of a stuff to try and drive a nail into.

[Panda]

Try talking to a "freight forwarder" rather than going straight to a shipping company. Freight forwarders may charge a little extra but the know the business and they handle everything from customs to harbour fees and loading costs for you. All you will have to do is get it into the container and line up a purchaser in Thailand. Freight forwarders have an international network of cooperative companies and will handle everything from door to door across the world. They get cheaper rates with the shipping companies too, so may even be cheaper than doing it all yourself. Worth doing a Google.

[Smithson]

^
It's not asbestos

Are you sure? I think some is.

[DrAndy]

the ancient stuff (over 40 years) may be, but anything slightly modern will not be.

[phunphin]

A 30ft container will cost I love you Jesus$5000 from NZ----- thailand. probably less coming from oz.

[Marmite the Dog]

Try talking to a "freight forwarder" rather than going straight to a shipping company.

If anyone is interested I'm mates with an Aussie guy who is the boss of a large FF company. He's in Vietnam now, but worked for 3 or 4 years in Thailand until last month. He still visits here regularly.

[Smithson]

the ancient stuff (over 40 years) may be, but anything slightly modern will not be.

I'm not sure about that, I tried asking around on the web and couldn't get a definite answer. Most ppl said "I doubt it". A few years ago there was a story in the Bkk post about Thailand opposing a worldwide ban on asbestos, as it would affect there own industry. The other day a Thai guy told me asbestos is still used and to stay clear the synthetic sheeting.

There is also this thread from last year coolthaihouse.com :: View topic - Oranit Roofsheets left in the rain ...

[Panda]

A 30ft container will cost I love you Jesus$5000 from NZthailand. probably less coming from oz.

Sounds about right. 5 years ago I could send a refrig container with 15,000kg of frozen payload Brisbane to Bangkok for $5,000 AUD.

[Smithson]

I think coming from Perth is the cheapest.

[Panda]

Just messing around with some rough numbers in my head. You could probably land 100 x50 (4x2) hardwood in Thailand for about 50 baht a meter, plus any import tariffs. It would need to be worth about twice that retail to make it viable.
These are just rough numbers BTW. So may not be all that accurate.

[xen]

I was told a couple of years ago that abestos was not going to be used in the manufacture of building materials (about 2005) . I haven,t followed it up to see if that occured.

Also with treated pine there are several different grades ranging from the asenic based for poles and other inground use right up to the tannolin based stuff.