Total imported plywood arrivals in March were 317,900 cubic metres, 19.3% more and 11.9% more. Volume from Malaysia was 153,000 cubic metres, 53% more and 11.7% more.That from Indonesia was 96,200 cubic metres, 5.5% more and 19.8% more.
Average monthly arrivals of imported plywood in last twelve months were 297,500 cubic metres so March arrivals exceeded average monthly volume.
In March, shipments by the largest Malaysian supplier increased and unloading at port of Yokohama delayed and several thousand cbms are carried over into April so that
April arrivals would be over 300 million cubic metres. Then after April, import volume is estimated to drop sharply because of log shortage in producing regions and purchase curtailment by Japan.
Domestic plywood production in March was 231,400 cubic metres, 10.9% more and 7.6% more, out of which softwood plywood was 216,400 cubic metres, 14.1% more and 9.7% more. This is the largest monthly production since June 2007.
Shipment of softwood plywood was 218,900 cubic metres, 35% more and 6.8% more. This is six consecutive months that the shipment exceeded 200 million cubic metres. The inventories were 125,100 cubic metres, about 2,500 cubic metres less than a month ago.