|
Japan
Wood Products Prices
Dollar
Exchange Rates of 23th Februray 2006
Japan
Yen 118.59
Report
From Japan
Plywood supply and imports declined in 2005
The total supply of plywood in Japan was 7.82 million m3 in 2005, down 3.4% from 2004 due to a decline in plywood imports. The domestic production of plywood increased to partially offset the decline in plywood imports. Domestic production of plywood gained over 3% to 3.25 million m3 in 2005, of which softwood plywood (2.3 million m3) accounted for almost 71%, an
all time high. Around 86% of softwood plywood was 12mm or thicker panels.
Plywood imports fell 7.5% to 4.57 million m3 in 2005, due to serious log shortages in Indonesia and the ongoing crackdown on illegal log harvest. Malaysia was the
largest supplier of plywood with 2.18 million m3 (40% of total imports), up 9.1% from 2004, followed by Indonesia with 1.85 million m3, down 24% from 2004, and China with 403,000 m3, up 21% from 2004.
Ikea to open first store in Japan
Sweden's Ikea, the furniture and home furnishing chain, has scheduled the opening of its first store in Funabashi City, Chiba in May 2006. Ikea has 220 stores in 33 countries worldwide, which were visited by more than 100 million people in 2005. The Funabashi store will have three connected sections, namely a showroom of furniture and home furnishing products, a market hall and a self-service warehouse.
Ikea plans to open a second store in Shin-Yokohama in September, two more stores in 2008 and two more in 2009.
Japan losses its position as lumber price leader
The Chairman of the Japan Lumber Import Association (JLIA), Mr. Taniyama, has recently indicated that lumber trade conditions had changed for Japan. He said that Japan had lost its position as lumber price leader in Southeast Asia. The supply of New Zealand lumber had
become complicated due to the rise in freight costs while Japan was losing competitiveness with USA and Chinese markets for US wood. Regarding European wood products, imports which continue to grow, he expressed concern on adequate supply levels at competitive prices.
Mr. Taniyama stressed that importing wood was becoming increasingly difficult year after year. However, he expected growing log and wood products supply from Russia and announced JLIA's plans to hold discussions with Russian suppliers.
Mr. Taniyama also emphasized JLIA's commitment to procure wood products from legal sources, following closely the government's timber procurement policy. He added that the time importers could buy any kind of wood had ended.
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
