Japan Wood Products
Prices
Dollar Exchange Rates of
10th October 2008
Japan Yen 100.25
Reports From Japan
Sumitomo Forestry to increase sales of FSC certified
products
Japan Lumber Reports indicated that Sumitomo Forestry
(Tokyo) plans to increase sales of certified imported
plywood. The initial products, which will be from Alas
Group’s Sari Bumi Kusuma (SBK) and Harjon Timber
(HTR), will carry FSC certification from Alas’s plantation
in Central and West Kalimantan. Alas primarily supplies
meranti plantation timber, with a 50 centimeter diameter
for lumber and plywood manufacturing. Sumitomo
expects to expand its certified plywood imports from
Malaysia and Indonesia by 2011.
Housing starts continue recovery from August 2007
Japan Lumber Reports posted August’s year-on-year gains
for housing starts (Figure 1) and a 16.7% rise in plywood
imports (Figure 2). This continues July’s positive trend,
which showed gains in plywood imports and housing
starts from July 2007 levels, when housing starts and
plywood imports were particularly low as a result of
Japan’s revised Building Standards Act. However, the
Japan Lumber Journal noted that few inquiries for
plywood were received at the end of September 2008,
since housing starts have not increased recently, which has
resulted in manufacturers’ inability to move plywood
supply at their desired price.
|
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 |
|
|
|
