Feb 17, 2005. /Lesprom Network/. Total housing starts in 2004 have been reported at nearly 1,190,000 units, which represents an increase of 189,049 units or 2.5% over. Units built for private owners fell in 2004 after two years of improvement but units built for rent increased lifting the overall figure to a second year of improved starts. Builders report that demand for housing was active as the national economy has gradually improved and because of the continuing tax breaks on housing loan interest. A driving force for 2004 starts was developers 'built for sale' units, particularly for detached units in the suburban areas. Individual owner unit sales declined by almost 1% to 369,852 units while rental units increased by 3% representing four consecutive years of growth. The boom in units built for sale at 345,501 represents two straight years of gain, an increase of 5.8% over 2003 Wood framed unit sales stood at 540,746, 3.4% up on 2003 and a share of total starts of 45.4%, which is marginally up on 2003. Log prices are rising The January log market was unchanged from December tough negotiations between importers and buyers. The importers were determined to raise log wholesale prices in January but failed after the Yen got stronger, moving close to 100 Yen to the US dollar. Plywood mills have demanded reduced wholesale prices because of the strong Yen but the importers have resisted this so prices remained unchanged. Sarawak meranti regular log prices are about now between Yen 5,800-5,850 per koku for logs which arrived in December. Meranti small log prices are about Yen 5,000 and super small logs are at Yen 4,600-4,700 per Koku. The cost of logs which arrived in January is up due to higher FOB prices and higher ocean freight charges. Sarawak loading charges are now about US$2 per cubic metre higher. With an exchange rate of Yen 104 per dollar, the delivered cost of logs would be about Yen 6,000 per Koku, so the importers need to increase prices by at least Yen 200 per koku.