Lumber imports to Japan: volumes and prices

Today’s infographics is dedicated to the market of imported softwood lumber in Japan: major commodity streams and price dynamics are presented. You can learn more on Japanese lumber import volumes and prices for planed and non-planed lumber of particular species in #73 WhatWood Weekly issue.

Following the results of 2012, Japan was seventh largest market for Russian softwood lumber (767,900 m3).

The largest commodity group in the structure of lumber imports to Japan is planed spruce, pine and fir (commodity code 4407 10110) from Canada. In the first quarter of 2013, its imports amounted to 344,500 m3. The volume of importing similar commodity group from Russia was 123,700 m3. The third largest group is non-planed pine lumber (commodity code 4407 10121) from Sweden – 109,000 m3 in Q1 2013.

During the last twelve months, the price of planed lumber from Europe almost matched with Russian – a year ago, Russian lumber was $90 more expensive. From the point of import prices, the most competitive are Canadian products. In Japan, taruki lumber grade is widely utilized, which is planed square beam from kiln-dried pine or spruce used in housing construction.

In the non-planed sector, Russian pine lumber is the most expensive. Russia delivers genban lumber to Japan, which is non-planed board for further processing, most often made of high-quality Angara pine. Prices for other commodity groups during the last twelve months almost equalled and set around $280-290.

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