Japan Wood Products
Prices
Dollar Exchange Rates of
31th August 2008
Japan Yen 108.83
Reports From Japan
Southsea Lumber Conference reveals declining results for first half 2008
The Japan Lumber Journal indicated that the amount of
Southsea logs received in the first half of 2008 fell about
43% from the same period of 2007. The results,
announced at the Tokyo Chapter of the Japan Southsea
Lumber Conference, revealed a fall in imports as a result
of factors such as an inability to secure shipping for log
transport and a decrease in demand. This has begun to
affect businesses in Japan. Japan Lumber Reports has
indicated Seihoku, a major lauan plywood factory in
Tokyo, will suspend its operations when logs run out at the
end of August.
Some have speculated that a possible price increase for
Southsea logs may be approaching, although prices were
already hovering at high levels. JLJ reports also indicate
that there has not been any arrival of Sabah logs because
of low demand. Plywood purchasing is expected to be
slow throughout August and prices for some lauan
plywood items are expected to rise in the future.
Production conditions in Sarawak continue to be difficult,
and with FOB prices rising, buyers in Japan are not
accepting most highly priced items.
Housing starts stagnate while plywood imports fall
Japan Lumber Reports indicated that housing starts fell
16.7% (Figure 1) from the same month in 2007, reflecting
the depressed tone of the market. Plywood imports (Figure
2) dropped 2.7% in June 2008 from June 2007 levels,
although JLJ noted that shipments of plywood in August
had increased.
|
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 |
|
|
|
