Wood Industry News from Japan

The Takaoka City sawmill uses steam heating and integrated steam basins to reduce heating times and provide precisely controlled drying.

The plan aims to expand domestic wood supply after softwood log imports fell from 12.2 million m3 in 2000 to 1.6 million m3 in 2025.

The law also directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development to identify financing barriers for modular housing and study a federal building standard.

Existing U.S. builders posted lower deliveries and prices, while timber manufacturing turned loss-making even as housing volumes rose in Australia and Japan.

Gains in China, Taiwan, Mexico, Pakistan, South Korea and Hong Kong offset only about 4% of the U.S. volume decline.

Wooden homes account for 59.4% of new housing starts, while first-half housing starts post modest year-over-year growth.

Second washing unit and refiner scheduled for May 2028 startup to support capacity expansion.

Latin America remains a low‑cost source at about 95 million m3 annually while Oceania’s supply may fall by roughly three million m3 by 2035.

Additional funding will support production ramp-up at the Huntsville facility, which is scheduled to begin manufacturing this summer and create demand for 100,000 m3 of underutilized wood.

India took 73% of shipments.

Cedar and Spruce/Fir stud lumber rose year-on-year while cypress fell and softwood plywood held steady.

Funding will support low-carbon wood technologies, mass timber housing, Indigenous participation and export diversification while ministers review Task Force recommendations

Japan and the United States were the largest destinations, accounting for about 25% and 23% of volume respectively.

Japan became the largest destination after U.S. duties hit Indonesia’s shipments.

Decades-old Finnish-Japanese trading firm brings local networks as Japan's sawmill industry automates production lines.

Joint venture deepens Rengo-Sumitomo partnership as second-generation bioethanol moves toward market.

Wooden housing starts decrease 26.9% while monthly figures rise from February levels.

Two-plant operator in Aichi becomes Rengo affiliate after investment follows 2024 supply agreement.

Kiln-dried cedar prices rise in some sizes, while kiln-dried cypress prices fall year over year in one key size and stud lumber posts gains.

Wooden starts account for 59.6% of February starts, while both total and wooden starts rise from January.

Facility marks province's first heavy duty corrugator as joint venture secures local paper and power supply.

Stud lumber posts larger year-over-year gains than cedar and cypress, while plywood is flat.

Overall housing starts dip 0.4%

Shipments fall 7.8% and ending inventory drops 8.1% from December.

Nippon takes 70% stake in Marusumi Whangarei Company, renamed NP Wood Fibre, to secure supply for Japanese market.

Softwood accounts for 97% of total import volume.

Cypress lumber prices remain stable from December levels.

Asia accounts for more than 90% of Chile’s bleached softwood kraft pulp shipments.

Wooden housing accounts for 60.4% of total starts, while full-year 2025 totals drop 6.5%.

Tokyo targets 6% of power from biomass, yet high fuel prices, policy uncertainty, and competition challenge new projects.

Shipments to China account for 98% of total export volume.

Vietnam supplies two-thirds of total imports as U.S. share declines sharply.

Export volume totals 12.99 million m3 as value decreases 2% and average price falls 8%.

Shipments fell by 2.4%.

Ordinary plywood output falls by 5.4%.

Export value declines 13%, with average price per m3 down 3%, as South Korea and the United States remain main destinations.

Strategic investment targets global microcrystalline cellulose market, valued at $1.33 billion.

Howa Sangyo will also establish a new wholly owned subsidiary to take over Nissio Gravure's machinery sales business.

Prices unchanged month-on-month, with cedar up 3.8% and cypress showing mixed year-on-year changes.

Average price grows 12%.

Apparent consumption fell by 10.8%.

Wooden housing declines 3.0%, accounting for 63.3% of total starts.

Wood-fueled facility, backed by Sumitomo and Tokyo Gas, targets 800,000 MWh annual output for 260,000 households.

Cedar lumber declines 0.1% while cypress lumber increases 0.2% from October.

New facility to process local softwood for the domestic Japanese market.

New facility in North Rhine-Westphalia employs over 200 people and features automated warehouses and on-site energy systems.

Domestic supply stays constrained while import flows improve and mills raise operating rates.

Wooden housing declines 2.8%, accounting for 56.5% of total construction.

Shipments grow 6.4% as inventory declines 2.7%.

Ordinary plywood shipments rise 15%.

Delegates engage over 300 partners through 20 meetings, signing MOUs to expand wood construction and boost housing initiatives.

Delegation to Japan and South Korea seeks to grow markets for B.C. wood products.

Cedar and cypress lumber prices fall while spruce/fir stud lumber sees a slight increase.

Wooden housing declines 2.2%, making up 63% of total starts.

Purchase expands Rengo Group's corrugated packaging presence in Indonesia to 12 total factories.

Shipments increased 20.5% from August.

Softwood plywood shipments fall 11.0% while ending inventory climbs 4.3%.

The facility, which produces structural larch plywood, is located in Amursk, Khabarovsk Krai, and is intended to supply both the Russian market and Southeast Asia.

The delivery features Jartek’s latest automation solutions, including automated stick quality grading and the AR-HUB system, setting a new benchmark for efficiency and quality in sawmill operations.

Cedar drops 1.7% and cypress Grade 2 edges down 0.4% from August.