Brighter outlook: Teak forests are seen in Panggungrejo district, Blitar, East Java, in late September 2019. Forestry industry players are upbeat entering 2020 thanks to policy reforms after suffering an export drop in 2019. (JP/Asip Hasani)Exports of Indonesian wood products totaled US$11.6 billion in 2019, a 4 percent drop from the previous year due to declining demand caused by the ongoing United States-China trade war and the weak competitiveness of local products. Industry players, however, are upbeat entering 2020 thanks to policy reforms.Wood veneer, panel and woodwork products suffered the steepest declines, with annual exports falling 20 percent, 16.14 percent and 11.14 percent, respectively, said Association of Indonesian Forest Concessionaires (APHI) chairman Indroyono Soesilo.Wood panel exports to China are close to zero as Indonesian products have become less competitive tha...