Japan Wood Products Prices

01-15th March 2008

Japan Wood Products Prices

Dollar Exchange Rates of  15th Feb. 2008

Japan Yen 105.39

Reports From Japan

Tokyo association anticipates upbeat trends in spring
Japan Lumber Journal reported on the market’s
sluggishness in February, after seeing stronger movement
of goods in January. Participants at a recent Tokyo
Lumber Wholesalers’ Association committee meeting
noted that the market was ‘rising from the bottom’ and
expected to pick up by April. Most prices for items were
said to be at the previous month’s levels, but some prices,
such as those for lauan structural plywood were higher
than those in January.

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