The market demand and price of teak in Laos vary broadly and depend on several factors. The aim of this study was to assess timber trading and pricing based on a survey of teak buyers. The research investigated teak trading methods, markets and prices paid for particular timber types and quality grades. Three types of teak timber are commonly sold: 24.7% as standing trees, 39.6% as round logs and 35.7% as square logs. The main wood products produced from plantation teak include joinery products, door and window frames, and furniture (57.9%, 26.3% and 15.8% respectively). The end buyers of teak timber in Laos are sawmillers and wood manufacturer. Teak timbers supplied to end buyers from growers via the local traders account for 49.0%, followed by 41.3% by direct supply from teak growers and 9.7% via the local small sawmillers and wood manufacturers. The price of teak timber varies significantly based on four main factors: timber types, log sizes, log quality (grades) and distance from plantation site to road (for standing trees). The round log price of 250US$/m³, based on both log diameter size (D26-30 cm) and log quality grade (A grade), was much lower than the 321US$/m³ amount paid for the same size of round log (D26-30 cm) based on log diameter alone (no grading price). It can be concluded that there is a need to develop a clear system or standard for teak log grading and pricing in Laos.

老挝柚木的市场需求和价格差异很大，并取决于几个因素。这项研究的目的是基于对柚木购买者的调查来评估木材交易和价格。该研究调查了柚木的交易方法，市场和针对特定木材类型和质量等级的价格。通常出售三种类型的柚木木材：立木为24.7％，圆木为39.6％，方木为35.7％。人工柚木生产的主要木制品包括细木工制品，门窗框和家具（分别为57.9％，26.3％和15.8％）。老挝柚木木材的最终买家是锯木厂和木材制造商。从柚木种植者通过当地贸易商供应给最终买家的柚木木材占49.0％，其次是柚木种植者直接供应的柚木木材占41.3％，而通过当地小型锯木厂和木材制造商供应的柚木木材占9.7％。柚木木材的价格基于四个主要因素而有很大差异：木材类型，原木大小，原木质量（等级）以及从种植地到道路的距离（对于立木而言）。原木价格250US $ / m³，基于原木直径尺寸（D26-30厘米）和原木质量等级（A级），远低于为相同尺寸的原木（D26-30厘米）支付的321US $ / m ³量。仅原木直径（无分级价格）。可以得出结论，有必要为老挝的柚木原木分级和定价制定明确的系统或标准。