The Japanese Forest Agency made up demand projection of major wood products for the second half of this year. On domestic wood, demand for lumber increases while that for plywood declines and total year figures would be less than last year.<\/p>\n
Imported lumber in Japan is expected to decline in the third quarter but is set to increase in the fourth quarter, while imports of logs should increase. Imported products will be less than last year. While Japan's housing starts are estimated to increase, total wood demand will decline.<\/p>\n
Domestic logs for lumber will increase by December but less than last year. Logs for plywood will decrease because of plywood mills' production curtailments and rebound of large volumes of last year. Imported logs will increase in the second half of the year as they were low in the first half of the year.<\/p>\n
Imported lumber volumes will decline in the third quarter, but demand will increase in the fourth quarter as inventories have declined.<\/p>\n
Plywood declines because of market slump and mills production curtailment programs plus decline of imported plywood from South East Asian countries. Laminated lumber domestic production is expected to decrease in the second half while imports are set to increase for both third and fourth quarters.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"