Japan Wood Products
Prices
Dollar Exchange Rates of
15th August 2008
Japan Yen 109.63
Reports From Japan
JLJ projects recovery in business prospects this
October
The Japan Lumber Journal provided an overview of shortterm
supply and demand prospects for lumber in the third
and fourth quarters. The Journal noted that a general
recovery in business was expected in October, which
would allow inventories to adjust over the next few
months. However, demand for Southsea logs used for
plywood was expected to decrease 15.2% and 9.9% in the
third and fourth quarters, respectively.
JLJ also provided results of the Japan Southsea Lumber
Conference, which said it estimated imports of tropical
logs to be 852,000 m³ in 2008. This would reflect about a
15-20% decrease when compared to 2007, a situation
mostly due to limited availability of logs for export from
supplying countries, and the rising cost of logs and freight
charges. If the supply of Russian logs to Japan decreases,
it was expected that demand for Southsea logs would
improve.
Japan Lumber Reports indicated rises of Southsea
hardwood plywood prices, mostly due to a decrease in
manufacturers’ stocks. Export prices of Indonesian thin
and medium plywood were said to be approaching peak
prices seen two years ago. JLJ also noted that the supply
of lauan concrete form plywood was expected to be tighter
in the months ahead.
Japan’s demand for domestic lumber shows three year
rise
Japan Lumber Reports noted that demand for domestic
sawnwood had increased 5.8% in 2007 and that Japan’s
wood supply self-sufficiency had increased over a three
consecutive year period. Wood product imports, mainly
lumber and plywood, fell to their lowest levels since 1986.
This shift to the use of domestic wood resources had been
mainly a result of the rising tariff on Russian logs. The
overall drop in imports was 7.9%. Table 1 below shows
the demand for various products in 2007:
|
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 |
|
|
|
