Japan's production of softwood plywood in January 2017 was 227,700 cubic metres, 1.4% more than January last year and 4.6% less than December, ITTO reported.
Fewer working days in December by year-end holidays and lower efficiency of drying by cold weather in the North East and Japan Sea side plants caused lower production.
The shipment in December was 235,000 cubic metres, 1.1% less and 1.8% less. The shipment exceeded production by 7,200 cubic metres. Precutting plants were busy in January to catch up delayed orders.
Plywood plants continue full production because mills in Eastern Japan carry about a month of delivery delay and Western Japan mills have maximum of three months of delay. The inventory dropped down to 83,300 cubic metres, 7,200 cubic metres less than December so tightness continues.
January arrivals of imported plywood were 308,500 cubic metres, 17.4% more and 32.1% more. Malaysia supplied 133,400 cubic metres, 28.5% and 51.8% more. Indonesia 88,500 cubic metres, 6.5% and 23.2% more; China 69,000 cubic metres.
Delay the customs clearance in December and more orders placed by the importers for tight items are the reasons of higher volume. Cargoes coming in after March are high cost by weak yen so the importers need to push the prices.
