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Japan
Wood Products Prices
Dollar
Exchange Rates of 23th March 2006
Japan
Yen 118.09
Reports
From Japan
Higher condo sales point to pick up in economy
The number of condominiums put on sale in the Tokyo metropolitan area in March rose 13.4% from a year earlier to 7,596 units, the first year-on-year increase in five months, according to the Real Estate Economic Institute (REEI). The increase was driven by high-rise and large-scale condominium complexes which are selling well partly due to growing expectations of a
pickup in the economy.
REEI said 83.6% of new condos in the Tokyo area found buyers. Per-unit prices averaged 42.09 million yen ($357,000), up 7.6% from a year earlier while the price per m2 rose 6.5% to 554,000 yen ($4,495). With this result, the number of condos sold in fiscal 2005 rose for the first time in five years to 83,697 units, up 1.4% from the previous year. The sales contract ratio
was 83.2% for the year through March, topping 80% for the first time since fiscal 1996.
Japan proposes Asian FTA as precursor to EAEC
Japan will propose the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as well as China, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand to join it in regional free trade agreement (FTA) talks in 2008.
The Asian free trade zone would act as a precursor to establishing an East Asian economic community (EAOC) to be modeled after the OECD, the Minister of Economy and Industry Toshihiro Nikai said.
Japan has signed FTAs with Singapore, Mexico and Malaysia and has agreements in principle with Thailand and the Philippines. Japan is in FTA negotiations with South Korea and has begun talks with ASEAN since April 2005.
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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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