Main Board-bound Evergreen Fibreboard Bhd expects demand for medium-density fibreboard (MDF) in the Asia-Pacific region to hit 20.1 million cubic metres in 2006 and jump 53% to 30.8 million cubic metres in 2008.

Its executive director Kuo Jen Chiu said the company was moving forward strategically to meet the growing demand.

"Currently, 80% of our products are for the export market. We have a diversified customer base of 374 customers in approximately 40 countries, including the United States, Vietnam, China, Japan, Taiwan, Korea and Jordan," Kuo said in a statement on Jan 28.

He said Malaysia was already the third largest exporter of MDF in 2003 with exports totaling RM987.6 million.