Japan Timber and Wood Products Market Prices Reports - Pine,Redwood,Plywood and Veneer,Building Materials

Japan Wood Products Prices

16-30th November 2005

Dollar Exchange Rates of 22th November 2005

Japan Yen 119.22

Report From Japan

Plywood imports recovered in September
Total supply of plywood in September was 656,000 m3, up 7.2% from August but 0.7% lower than the same month a year ago. Imports of plywood were 365,000 m3 in September, up 4.4% from August but 5.5% down from the same month in 2004. Imports from Malaysia and Indonesia were 174,000 m3 (up 12% from August) and 146,100 m3 (unchanged), respectively.

Domestic production of standard plywood was 290,000 m3 in September, up 10.9% from August and 6.1% more than September last year. This was the highest monthly production of the year. Softwood plywood production, in particular,recorded the highest level this year with 209,900 m3, up 14.5% from August and 13.1% from September last year.

Plywood prices firming due to stock shortages

Prices for Southeast Asian hardwood structural 12mm F 4star panel climbed to 880-900 yen per sheet delivered Tokyo, 20-40 yen higher than a month ago due to stock shortages. Imported standard 12mm panel F 3star (category 2) is also in short availability with prices firming at 820-840 yen per sheet delivered while prices for imported thin panel of 2.3mm F 4star (category 2) are rising to 300-320 yen per sheet delivered. All of these imported items are reported as firming and in tight availability.

October and November Wholesale Prices

		October	November
Indonesian Plywood	Size (mm)	(¥/sheet)
2.3mm (thin plywood, F 4star, type 2 )	920 X 1830	300	310
3.7mm (med. thickness, F 4star, type1)	910 X 1820	430	430
5.2mm (med. thickness, F 4star, type 1)	910 X 1820	540	540
12mm for sheathing (F 3star, type 2)	910 X 1820	830	830
12mm for foundation (F 4star, special)	910 X 1820	870	880
12mm concrete-form ply (JAS)	900 X 1800	820	850
11.5mm flooring board	945 X 1840	1100	1100
3.6mm baseboard for overlays (OVL)	1230 X 2440	780	780
5.2mm for packing	1230 X 2440	830	830
8.5mm for packing	1230 X 2440	1080	1080
Malaysian Plywood
2.3mm (thin plywood, F 4star, type 2)	920 X 1830	300	310
3.6mm (med. thickness, F 4star, type1)	910 X 1820	430	430
5.2mm (med. thickness, F 4star, type 1)	910 X 1820	540	540
12mm for sheathing (F 3star, type 2)	910 X 1820	830	830
12mm for foundation (F 4 star, special)	910 X 1820	870	880
11.5mm concrete-form ply (JAS)	900 X 1800	820	850
11.5mm flooring board	945 X 1840	1100	1100
3.6mm baseboard for overlays (OVL)	1230 X 2440	780	780
Softwood Plywood (Canadian CSP)
9.5mm foundation of wall (JAS)	1220 X 2440	1500	1500
12.5mm sheathing (T&G JAS)	606 X 2273	1030	1030
15.5mm foundation (T&G JAS)	1220 X 2440	2500	2500
18.5mm foundation (T&G JAS)	1220 X 2440	2850	2850
Particleboard (Indonesian)
12mm for woodworking	910 X 1820	n/a	n/a
15mm for woodworking	910 X 1820	n/a	n/a
OSB (North American)
12mm foundation of roof (JAS)	910 X 1820	980	980
9.5mm foundation for 2 by 4 (JAS)	910 X 2440	1020	1020
9.5mm conventional foundation (JAS)	910 X 2730	1280	1250
9.5mm conventional foundation (JAS)	910 X 3030	1370	1350

New 45-minutes fire -resistant flooring

Touhoku Plywood Manufacturers’ Association and Tokyo Plywood Manufacturers’ Association have developed new fire resistant floorin g. The flooring is a combination of 28mm thick structural “nedanon” plywood and 15mm reinforced gypsum board. The product, which took a year and a half to develop, has obtained the certificate of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport for 45-minutes-fire resistance. The certificate allows the flooring to be used in buildings requiring 45 minutes fire resistance in quasi-fireproofing districts. The 28mm plywood is made out of Russian larch and domestic cedar veneer. Mr. Inoue, chairman of the Touhoku Plywood Manufacturers’ Association, indicated that fire resistance efficiency can be improved by using thick 28mm plywood and added that the use of domestic plywood species such as cedar will increase as a result of the new product.

Logs for Ply Manufacture, CIF

Meranti (Hill, Sarawak)

Medium Mixed

Standard Mixed

Small Log (SM60%, SSM40%)

Taun, Calophyllum

and others (PNG)

Mixed Light Hardwood,

G3-G4 grade (PNG)

Okoumé (Gabon)

Keruing MQ & up (Sarawak)

Kapur MQ & up (Sarawak)

Yen per Koku

(Koku=0.278 m³)

6,700

6,800

5,800

5,400

4,800

7,800

7,900

7,500

Logs for Sawmilling, CIF

Melapi (Sarawak) High Select

Agathis (Sarawak) High Select

Yen per Koku

8,800

8,600

Lumber, FOB

White Seraya (Sabah)

24x150mm, 4m 1st grade

Mixed Seraya, Sangi

24x48mm, 1.8-4m, S2S

Yen per Koku

(Koku=0.278 m³)

105,000

42,000

For more information on the Japanese market see www.n-mokuzai.com

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