WhatWood: Softwood lumber exports from Russia to Japan fell 12% in August

Softwood lumber exports from Russia to Japan in August 2015 amounted to 54,300 m3, which is 12% lower than in the previous month and 2% lower than in August 2014. This is the lowest rate in the last 38 months (since October 2012).

In August 2015, average prices fell by $5 across all specifications in relation to the previous month, down to $243/m3 (on the franco-Russian border terms), and by $73 in annual terms. Thus, the prices continue to fall steadily since December 2013.

The price for planed pine lumber, which accounts for 55% of the total Russian lumber sales to Japan in August 2015, fell by $2 (m/m) and by $80 (y/y) to $282/m3. The price of edge-sawn spruce (11% of total sales) showed an even larger reduction: by $11 to July 2015 and by $88 on-year down to $174.

The largest supplier in August 2015 was Mayr-Melnhof Holz Efimovsky (Leningrad region) with sales of 6,600 m3, followed by TM Baikal (Irkutsk region) with 5,500 m3 and Lesresurs (Irkutsk region) with 5,200 m3.

A detailed report on the export markets for Russian softwood lumber is available in our new product, WhatWood Monthly Russian Lumber Report.