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Japan Wood Products Prices

01-15th June 2009


Japan Wood Products Prices

Dollar Exchange Rates of  15th June. 2009

Japan Yen 98.68

Reports From Japan



Japan submits bill to House promoting wood use
Japan Lumber Reports has indicated the Liberal
Democratic Party and Komeito submitted a bill to the
House of Representatives that promotes wood use in
public facilities and wood-based housing. The bill, which
is designed to contribute to the prevention of global
warming, includes measures for deregulating the Building
Standards Act and the dissemination of knowledge about
carbon fixation through the utilization of wood. Other
measures in the bill include tax benefits and finance for
builders using wood in construction.

Southsea logs imports to Japan plummet 40%
Japan Lumber Reports (JLR) noted Japan’s imports of
Southsea lumber fell by more than 40% during the first
quarter of 2009 from the same period in 2008. With
plywood mills curtailing production by 20-30% for nearly
four months straight compared to the previous year’s
levels, Southsea log prices have also continued to fall.
Nevertheless, log inventories are dropping so it is expected
that log arrivals in May and June would increase inventory
levels to about 60,000 m³.

Japan’s housing starts and plywood imports continue to slow
In March 2009, Japan’s plywood imports fell 10% from
the same month in 2008 (Figure 1), reported Japan
Lumber Reports (JLR). Housing starts in March were
20.7% less than the same month of 2008, with wood-based
units also down 21% (Figure 2).


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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