Japan's imports of softwood lumber from Europe, Canada and Russia fell sharply in May, highlighting continued weakness in one of the world's key premium export markets. Despite relatively firm import prices, Japanese buyers continued to reduce purchasing volumes, with EU shipments falling 30% year-on-year, Russian deliveries down 32% and Canadian exports declining 21%, according to preliminary data released by Japan's Forestry Agency.<\/p>\n
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Total softwood lumber imports reached 268,000 m\u00b3<\/strong> in May, up 7%<\/strong> from April but 27%<\/strong> below the same month last year. During the first five months of 2026, imports totalled 1.331 million m\u00b3<\/strong>, down 13%<\/strong> year-on-year, indicating that the recovery seen in some global lumber markets has yet to translate into stronger Japanese demand.<\/p>\n Japan softwood lumber imports<\/strong><\/p>\n EU remains the largest supplier despite steep decline<\/strong><\/p>\n The EU remained Japan's largest supplier of imported softwood lumber in May, accounting for approximately half of total arrivals. However, deliveries fell to 132,000 m\u00b3<\/strong>, a decline of 30%<\/strong> compared with May 2025, while cumulative shipments for January-May were down 10%<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Among the main European exporters, Finland recorded the sharpest decline. Finnish shipments dropped 36%<\/strong> year-on-year in May to 50,000 m\u00b3<\/strong>, with cumulative exports falling 12%<\/strong>. Sweden exported 47,000 m\u00b3<\/strong>, down 22%<\/strong> from a year earlier, although its cumulative decline was limited to 4%<\/strong>, making it the most resilient of Japan's major European suppliers so far this year.<\/p>\n Canadian shipments recover from April but remain well below last year<\/strong><\/p>\n Canada shipped 55,000 m\u00b3<\/strong> of softwood lumber to Japan in May, an increase of 18%<\/strong> from April. The monthly recovery, however, was not enough to offset weaker demand, with volumes remaining 21%<\/strong> below May 2025.<\/p>\n For the January-May period, Canadian exports totalled 251,000 m\u00b3<\/strong>, representing a 15%<\/strong> decline from the same period last year.<\/p>\n Although Canada continues to benefit from its position as one of Japan's traditional suppliers of structural lumber, current purchasing levels remain well below last year's volumes.<\/p>\n Russian exports continue to weaken<\/strong><\/p>\n Russian softwood lumber exports also remained under pressure. Shipments increased 7%<\/strong> month-on-month to 46,000 m\u00b3<\/strong>, but were still 32%<\/strong> lower than in May 2025.<\/p>\n During the first five months of the year, Russian exports totalled 199,000 m\u00b3<\/strong>, down 23%<\/strong> year-on-year. The figures indicate that Russia continues to lose ground in Japan, with import volumes remaining well below previous trading levels.<\/p>\n Import prices remain firm<\/strong><\/p>\n Japan's weaker softwood lumber imports coincide with a continued slowdown in the country's housing market, the main driver of demand for structural lumber. Housing starts have declined repeatedly since late 2024, while Japan's shrinking and ageing population continues to weigh on residential construction. In a report published on June 18, Nomura Research Institute forecast annual housing starts to fall to 800,000 units by fiscal 2030<\/strong> and 610,000 units by fiscal 2040<\/strong>. Occupied housing stock is expected to decline from 56.26 million units in fiscal 2025<\/strong> to 51.68 million by fiscal 2050<\/strong>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Japan’s imports of softwood lumber from Europe, Canada and Russia fell sharply in May, highlighting continued weakness in one of the world’s key premium export markets. Despite relatively firm import prices, Japanese buyers continued to reduce purchasing volumes, with EU … Continue reading \n\n
\n \nSupplier<\/th>\n May 2026<\/th>\n MoM<\/th>\n YoY<\/th>\n Jan-May 2026<\/th>\n YoY<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n Total<\/strong><\/td>\n 268,000 m\u00b3<\/strong><\/td>\n +7%<\/td>\n -27%<\/td>\n 1.331 million m\u00b3<\/strong><\/td>\n -13%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n EU<\/td>\n 132,000 m\u00b3<\/td>\n -9%<\/td>\n -30%<\/td>\n 748,000 m\u00b3<\/td>\n -10%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Finlanda<\/td>\n 50,000 m\u00b3<\/td>\n 0%<\/td>\n -36%<\/td>\n 278,000 m\u00b3<\/td>\n -12%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Sweden<\/td>\n 47,000 m\u00b3<\/td>\n -17%<\/td>\n -22%<\/td>\n 288,000 m\u00b3<\/td>\n -4%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Canada<\/td>\n 55,000 m\u00b3<\/td>\n +18%<\/td>\n -21%<\/td>\n 251,000 m\u00b3<\/td>\n -15%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Russia<\/td>\n 46,000 m\u00b3<\/td>\n +7%<\/td>\n -32%<\/td>\n 199,000 m\u00b3<\/td>\n -23%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n United States<\/td>\n 3,000 m\u00b3<\/td>\n -16%<\/td>\n -58%<\/td>\n 19,000 m\u00b3<\/td>\n -45%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n \n\n
\n \nSupplier<\/th>\n Average import price<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n Overall<\/strong><\/td>\n JPY 61,319\/m\u00b3 (\u20ac331\/m\u00b3)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Canada<\/td>\n JPY 64,646\/m\u00b3 (\u20ac349\/m\u00b3)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n EU<\/td>\n JPY 56,720\/m\u00b3 (\u20ac306\/m\u00b3)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Russia<\/td>\n JPY 56,432\/m\u00b3 (\u20ac305\/m\u00b3)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n