Japan Wood Products
Prices
Dollar Exchange Rates of
31th October 2008
Japan Yen 98.43
Reports From Japan
Japanese log and lumber imports drop in 2008
Japan Lumber Journal indicated that imported logs
dropped about 45% by volume and imported lumber fell
nearly 30% during the first half of 2008 in comparison to
the previous period in 2007. JLJ noted that this was caused
by a slump in demand for products used for construction,
particularly in the Japanese housing market. The chart
below shows Japan’s logs and lumber imports from
various markets:
Southsea logs have been declining in production and Japan
has not purchased logs at the high prices demanded, in
contrast to countries such as China and India which have
been actively buying. Production of lauan plywood has
slowed and demand from Japan has dropped in the last
few months. During the first half of the year, the volume
of logs arriving in Japan was 54% lower than the same
period in 2007.
Shipments of Southsea logs to Tokyo Bay Port have
virtually stopped in September 2008, and lumber
manufacturers are obtaining lumber from other ports.
Higher prices have kept new shipments of plywood on
hold, so increases in plywood imports seem unlikely in the
near future. Japan Lumber Reports have noted that
hardwood prices have peaked since the start of the year.
|
