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Japan
Wood Products Prices
Dollar
Exchange Rates of 15th Nov.
2007
Japan
Yen 110.35
Reports
From Japan
Ocean freight costs raise log prices
Japan Lumber Reports indicated that the log market was quiet, with low demand and supply.
Tokyo markets have about four months’ worth of logs in supply and ports in
other areas have also reported ample supply. The appreciating yen affected the fall in market prices for logs.
However, freight costs have risen about USD5 per m3 in November for freights from Sarawak and Sabah, resulting
in freight costs of about USD40 per m3. While importers and mills are somewhat resistant to this price hike,shipping companies remain firm on the increased cost of
freight.
Shimane plywood to substitute for Southsea hardwood
A Nisshin group company, Nishi-Nihonkai Plywood Co., has decided to use Shimane (softwood) plywood instead of
South Sea hardwoods, said Japan Lumber Reports. After 42 years of operation, the high cost and declining
availability of materials has persuaded the company to substitute the new material for the hardwoods. The
company’s plywood property in Shimane-ken Plywood Cooperative will be leased and it will remodel its plywood
plant to manufacture softwood plywood.
Plywood imports continue to tumble
Plywood imports continue to fall, down 33% from the same month one year ago. The continued
drop in plywood imports is affected mostly by drops in housing starts, which have dropped to all time lows (see story below).
Inventories at plywood mills also have not sold their supply of plywood, as buyers are addressing immediate
needs only. At the same time, prices for imported plywood are falling. Japan Lumber Reports said that Seihoku
group, the largest plywood manufacturer in Japan, was reducing its production in November.
Japanese housing starts continue to fall in September
Housing starts continued to drop in September (Figure 2), after reaching 42 year lows last
month. September housing starts were 44% lower than a year ago and represent the
largest drop in history. Wood-based units account for 60% of the total amount. The drop continues to
be attributed to the tighter laws implemented under the Building Standards
Act, which was implemented in June.
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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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