|
Japan
Wood Products Prices
Dollar
Exchange Rates of 15th May
2007
Japan
Yen 121.67
Reports
From Japan
Japanese keeps plywood orders low
Japan is keeping orders for plywood low since Japan’s domestic port stocks are at high levels. Japanese
inventories of domestic and imported panels are stagnating, since there is lack of distribution of supply in
the market. The imported plywood market is softer, with export prices of South Sea hardwood plywood prices
inching down due to weak purchases by Japanese buyers.
A similar effect is happening for Japanese panels.
Japan’s imports of South Sea processed lumber increased 16% in January-March 2007, in contrast to the same
period for 2006. The primary reason for the rise was due to the 30,000 m3 of processed lumber imported from China
during January-March.
Russia reduces duty on lumber
Japan Lumber Reports recently reported that Russia has removed its export duty on softwood and hardwood
lumber, while its log export duty was raised to 20%. The report indicates that currently, softwood lumber with a
thickness of over 6mm has a 3% export duty and hardwood lumber has a 10% export duty. The export duty
on logs is currently at 6.5%.
Japanese housing starts up in April
During April, total housing starts were up 8% from a year ago, totalling 107,225 units.
Wood-based units accounted for 42% of the total housing starts, just slightly up from
41% in the previous month.
Tokyo Wholesale Market at end of May
Recent stocks of Malaysian agathis and ceraya lumber and Indonesian perupok and agathis laminated lumber were
low at the Tokyo Wholesale Market at the end of May. On the other hand, Chinese red pine laminated lumber were
favorable and yunshan ceder lumber (24mm and 34mm) were scarce.
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
