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Japan
Wood Products Prices
Dollar
Exchange Rates of 15th Sep.
2007
Japan
Yen 115.80
Reports
From Japan
Prime Minister Abe to resign
On Wednesday, September 12, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced his plan to step down
after just a year in power, reported The Japan Times. The announcement came a few
days after Abe said he would resign if he failed to continue operations related to Japan’s support for
NATO-led counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan. Officials also noted that Abe’s health
played a role in his decision to step down.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party was scrambling to find a successor to Abe, with former
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda and Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga already
announcing their intention to run for the LDP Presidency. However, LDP Secretary General Taro
Aso is seen as the front runner. In the wake of Abe’s intention to resign, The Wall Street Journal Asia reported
on analysts’ fears that the next prime minister could worsen government debt and slow the drive toward higher
productivity.
Forestry Agency sets new goal for domestic lumber supply
The Forestry Agency has set plans to expand domestic lumber supply by 35% to meet
domestic demand for lumber by improving the quality of products and efficiency of physical
distribution. The new initiative, entitled ‘Supporting Measures for Production of Locally-
Produced Lumber and Improvement of Distribution Centers’, will commence in the next fiscal year.
Plywood imports continue to fall
Plywood imports dropped 17.9% from June 2007, falling to 3.19 million m3 from 3.55 million m3 in June. During
the first week of September, prices for plywood also weakened, with the exception of 2.3mm thin boards and
5.5mm medium thick boards of lauan. Additionally, there have been delays in receiving construction permits in July, resulting in lowered plywood
production at the domestic level beginning in August. Some plywood importers
believe that the amount of plywood received in August could fall below 300,000 m3.
Japanese housing starts plummet
Total housing starts plummeted 23.40% in July, after briefly rebounding in June. Total units
amounted to 81,714, a plunge not witnessed since the bubble economy collapsed since July
1997. Japanese officials claim that the drop is only temporary, attributing the July results to
confusion in application procedures for building approval that became effective on 20 June 2007. Nevertheless,
experts are still concerned that the weak building materials market and its effects could still have long term effects on
housing starts. Wood-based units accounted for 46% of the
total housing starts, just slightly up from 40% in the previous month.
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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 |
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