Japan’s value of wood products export in 2017 was 32,647 million yen, 37% more than 2016. Main factor is increased export of logs to China and rapid expansion of cedar lumber export to the U.S. market, as ITTO reported.
Log export to China was 776,004 cubic metres, 61.8% more than 2016 with the value of 10,299 million yen, 83.5% more.
China eyed the U.S. market for export of cedar lumber then Japan also started exporting rough cedar lumber for the U.S. market mainly for fencing. The U.S. market prefers dark colored sap wood and black core, which Japan market does not like. Also cedar has strong water resistance and durability for exterior use. Cedar lumber export to the U.S. market in 2017 was 15,000 cubic metres, four times more than 2016.
Korea prefers Japanese cypress to cedar. Cypress price is higher than cedar so that export value for Korea is higher than China.
For Taiwan, log export volume is declining but lumber export continues expanding. Majority of shipping ports are in Kyushu, where is closer to China and Korea geographically.
