Q1 2026 hits 87 containers — record month for Middle East

Q1 2026 closed with 87 containers shipped from Cat Lai Port — a 38% jump versus Q1 2025. Middle East buyers (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iraq) absorbed 61 of those. Here is the operational story behind the number.

Where the volume came from

• Saudi Arabia (32 containers) — three Riyadh-based formwork contractors restocking ahead of Vision 2030 megaproject phases. All 18 mm film-faced plywood (FFP) with SABER compliance.
• UAE (19 containers) — Dubai-based construction supplier; mixed orders of FFP + commercial plywood for finish work.
• Iraq (10 containers) — Basra reconstruction. WBP commercial plywood, 12 mm + 15 mm.
• India (14 containers) — Yamunanagar plywood mills topping up core veneer stock ahead of monsoon.
• Korea + Japan (12 containers) — face-veneer specifications for furniture-grade plywood manufacturers.

How we absorbed the spike

Our 11+ partner mill network kept up because Q1 fell across the dry season — mills run full second shift Jan–March before the Tet break. Two specific changes from Q4 2025:

1. 1Added a 6th core veneer line at our Đồng Phú cluster (commissioned late January). Pushed veneer monthly capacity from 480 to 600 m³.
2. 2Pre-booked 40HQ container slots monthly with two shipping lines (MSC + ZIM) rather than booking spot — protected us from the late-March rate jumps caused by Red Sea diversions.

What Q2 looks like

Ramadan + Tet recovery means April typically dips ~20%. We are already booked at 71 containers through April–May 2026; pipeline visibility into June stands at 48 containers (confirmed POs).

If you are weighing a trial order for the Middle East, this is a good window — capacity is available, vessel rates are stable, and we can hold Q1 pricing through May 31.