Japan Wood Products Prices

01-15th August 2007

Japan Wood Products Prices
Dollar Exchange Rates of  16th August  2007
Japan Yen 116.69
Reports From Japan

Sluggish market brings Southsea timber prices down
Reports from the Japan Lumber Journal indicate that prices for Southsea logs fell during the month of July. The main reasons for this were increasing inventories of domestic logs and sluggish sales of plywood products. Prices for Malaysian logs in particular had gone down, especially for small and super small diameters, due to increasing supply. Prices for Papua New Guinean logs had also decreased, due to lack of interest from Chinese buyers.

Japan’s imports of Southsea logs in May 2007 were 88,100 m3 and shipments were 98,600 m3. From January to June 2007, imports of Southsea timber products were 242,950 m3. Southsea lumber imports were relatively low in June, since importers were not able to conclude many contracts due to high spot prices.

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