THE Fiji Hardwood Corporation Ltd (FHCL) – the managers, harvesters and processors of the country’s mahogany plantations – is working on achieving forest and timber certifications for locally-grown mahogany to be able to export to high-premium niche markets.
FHCL’s total lease estate is 75,000 hectares in both Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, of which 41,000 hectares on both islands now have matured standing mahogany.
However, its current production is averaging around 40,000 cubic metres a year with plans now in play to target a harvest of 80,000 cubic metres in the next three years to be able to supply its current market.
The Fiji Times has established that the 41,000 hectares contain around 5.2 million cubic metres of standing mahogany trees.
“We are aiming to increase our production. This year, we are aiming around 50,000 cubes, next year will be around 60,000; then the third year to be around 80,000 cubes,” FHCL chief executive officer Semi Dranibaka told this newspaper.
“Once we increase our production, our customers will be able to have sufficient supply of logs for the export market.”
Mr Dranibaka said because of the absence of certification, Fiji only exported to the American markets that then process and sell mahogany products.
With proper certification, he said Fiji mahogany could access high value export markets in Europe, New Zealand and Australia.
In its 2026-208 Statement of Corporate Intent launched yesterday, the company noted increasing global demand for tropical hardwoods and its diminishing supply.
“This situation has created a significant opportunity for the Fiji mahogany industry to tap into the global timber market and significantly increase foreign trade to the order of up to $2 billion annually, and generate an additional 3000 jobs both directly and indirectly,” it stated.
It stated while the mahogany plantation resources had the potential of supplying more than 150,000 cubic metres annually, the local sawmill capacity had the potential of absorbing only 80,000 cubic metres, but log purchases were averaging around 40,000 cubic metres annually for the past 25 years.
Given this scenario, FHCL will expand its role and participate in the whole mahogany value chain from plantation establishment to wood processing, product sales, and marketing.
That shift, it stated would be implemented under a high-value strategy targeting the high value niche markets specifically in the UK, Europe, North America, Australia and the UAE.
Mr Dranibaka said Fiji’s mahogany products were 100 per cent for export with demands from those markets.
“In the world, they are moving towards certification so we need to certify our products.”
He said they were working on achieving the forest certification before the end of this year, and the timber certification early next year.
