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Japan Wood Products Prices
 

16-30th June 2014


Japan Wood Products Prices

Dollar Exchange Rates of  26th  June 2014

Japan Yen 101.72

Reports From Japan

 

 Exports drop on weak demand in Asia and US
Data from Japan‟s Ministry of Finance (MoF) is showing
that May exports fell marking the first drop in more than
12 months. In particular, exports to Asian countries and
the US dropped and this makes it even more likely that the
Bank of Japan (BoJ) will come with an additional stimulus
package in the near future.


Overall, May exports fell almost 3% year-on-year
according to the MoF, a sharp reverse on the 5% increase
reported for April. A growth in exports is central to the
plan of the BoJ plan to achieve its inflation goal and to
offset the impact of the consumption tax increase
introduced in April this year.


On the other hand, Japan‟s import bill eased in May,
(another first for almost 2 years) by 3.6% from 2013. The
latest, weaker than expected, import figures helped narrow
the trade deficit which has been made worse because of
energy imports.


For the MoF statistics see:
http://www.customs.go.jp/toukei/srch/indexe.htm


Employment figures moving in the right direction
The latest employment figures from Japan‟s Ministry of
Internal Affairs and Communications shows that the
unemployment rate edged down to 3.5% in May from
3.6% in April, a sign that the jobs market is tightening.


Unemployment figures from Japan have been trending
lower since the end of 2013 and this is expected to impact
consumer confidence figures for June.


The encouraging employment figures came in contrast to
data showing household spending fell 8% during the first
five months of the year, much worse than projected.


The decline in spending was due mainly fewer purchases
of cars and household appliances as most consumers had
completed purchases in advance of the consumption tax
increase in April. Analysts expect the economy to have
weaken in the second quarter.



 


Abbreviations

LM        Loyale Merchant, a grade of log parcel  Cu.m         Cubic Metre
QS         Qualite Superieure    Koku         0.278 Cu.m or 120BF
CI          Choix Industriel                                                       FFR            French Franc
CE         Choix Economique                                                        SQ              Sawmill Quality
CS         Choix Supplimentaire      SSQ            Select Sawmill Quality
FOB      Free-on-Board     FAS            Sawnwood Grade First and
KD        Kiln Dry                               Second 
AD        Air Dry        WBP           Water and Boil Proof
Boule    A Log Sawn Through and Through MR              Moisture Resistant
              the boards from one log are bundled                      pc         per piece      
              together                      ea                each      
BB/CC  Plywood grades. Letter(s) on the left indicate face veneer(s), those on the right backing veneer(s). Veneer grade decreases in order B, BB, C, CC, etc. MBF           1000 Board Feet          
              Plywood   MDF           Medium Density Fibreboard
BF         Board Foot F.CFA         CFA Franc        
Sq.Ft     Square Foot  PHND             Pin hole no defect grade
Hoppus ton     1.8 cubic metres              Price has moved up or down

Source:ITTO'  Tropical Timber Market Report


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