Rubberwood

An important side product of Hevea rubber production is rubberwood (Killmann, 2001), which was originally perceived merely as a useful by-product for drying and smoking rubber and to provide a source of charcoal for local cooking. Rubberwood can be easily steam-bent, or stained to resemble any other timber, depending on consumer demand. Its favourable qualities and light colour make it a good timber for furniture making and other applications. 

The natural colour of rubberwood is one of the principal reasons for its popularity in Japan, where it is increasingly used to replace more traditional timbers. In 1998, Malaysia exported rubberwood furniture with a value of 683.3 million U$, and in general rubberwood is one of the most successful export timbers of Southeast Asia. Hevea is sometimes being grown primarily for timber harvesting, with the latex as a co-product.