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ABSTRACT
Japan is by far the largest
importer of wood products in the world although it
is not among the ten largest producers.
Japan is situated in Asia.
However, its import share from Asian countries is
only about 15 percent with the remainder imported
world-wide.
Structural changes of forest
product imports in Japan
Japan has been undergoing
drastic changes in the structure of forest product
imports in recent years. To be specific, the shift
from logs to more value-added products is
remarkable.
The most important reason for
the shift is the structural changes in production
in the producing countries brought about by the
movement toward environmental protection on a
global scale and sustainable forest management.
In Japan, in the meantime, the
Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995 triggered
increasing needs for earthquake-proof houses, and
demand for engineered wood such as laminated wood
is growing fast.
Changes in exporting
countries
During the period from 1992 to
1996, log imports into Japan were down 18 percent,
while lumber imports were up 36 percent.
Primary reasons for the drop in
log imports were the strengthened regulations for
environmental protection and development of
value-added products in the exporting countries. As
a result, log-exporting countries varied, and
imports of lumber and laminated wood, the latter in
particular, from some countries are soaring.
Imports of plywood also
increased. However, the share of exporting
countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia has
changed greatly. Also showing fast growth in
imports are particle board and fibreboard.
In general, imports from
countries which produce forest products using woods
from plantations are rising.
Relations with Southeast
Asian countries
Indonesia and Malaysia are the
two largest exporters of wood products to
Japan.
Indonesia began to restrict log
exports in 1982 and totally banned them in 1985.
Since then, their exports to Japan of plywood, and
laminated wood in later years, have increased
sharply. Indonesia is currently suffering an
economic crisis and the government is being forced
to change its policy. However, the effect of policy
changes for wood products is unpredictable at the
moment. Like Indonesia, Malaysia has been
restricting log exports since mid-1980s and
boosting exports of value-added products, although
this varies depending on states.
Wood supply (million
m3)
|
|
1990
|
1991
|
1992
|
1993
|
1994
|
1995
|
1996
|
1997
|
|
Total domestic imports
|
29.4
|
28.0
|
27.2
|
25.6
|
24.5
|
22.9
|
22.5
|
22.4
|
|
Logs products
|
33.9
|
32.2
|
30.4
|
27.7
|
26.9
|
25.9
|
25.1
|
23.9
|
|
Lumber
|
12.6
|
12.9
|
12.4
|
14.4
|
14.6
|
16.0
|
16.2
|
16.5
|
|
Plywood
|
4.7
|
5.0
|
4.9
|
6.6
|
6.5
|
7.0
|
8.4
|
8.5
|
|
Chip and pulp
|
30.0
|
33.3
|
32.9
|
32.8
|
35.6
|
38.4
|
37.6
|
37.4
|
|
Others
|
0.7
|
0.8
|
0.8
|
1.2
|
1.4
|
1.8
|
2.5
|
2.8
|
|
Subtotal(A)
|
47.9
|
52.1
|
51.0
|
55.1
|
58.1
|
63.1
|
64.7
|
65.2
|
|
Total Import (B)
|
81.8
|
84.2
|
81.4
|
82.8
|
85.0
|
89.0
|
89.8
|
89.0
|
|
Grand total(C)
|
111.2
|
112.2
|
108.5
|
108.4
|
109.5
|
111.9
|
112.3
|
111.4
|
|
B / C (%)
|
73.6
|
75.0
|
75.0
|
76.4
|
77.6
|
79.5
|
80.0
|
79.9
|
|
A / B (%)
|
58.6
|
61.8
|
62.7
|
66.5
|
68.3
|
70.9
|
72.1
|
73.2
|
Source: Forestry Agency. Volume
delivered at mills. All on solid wood basis.
Imports of logs and lumber
(million m3)
|
Exporter
|
1992
|
1993
|
1994
|
1995
|
1996
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
North America
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
USA Logs
|
8.5
|
7.7
|
7.4
|
7.1
|
6.9
|
|
Lumber
|
2.4
|
2.3
|
2.1
|
2.0
|
2.2
|
|
Canada Logs
|
0.7
|
0.5
|
0.3
|
0.2
|
0.1
|
|
Lumber
|
4.4
|
5.5
|
5.5
|
5.9
|
6.1
|
|
Subtotal Logs
|
9.3
|
8.2
|
7.6
|
7.3
|
7.0
|
|
Lumber
|
6.8
|
7.8
|
7.6
|
8.0
|
8.3
|
|
South Seas
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Malaysia
Logs
|
8.6
|
5.5
|
4.5
|
4.0
|
3.5
|
|
Lumber
|
0.7
|
0.7
|
0.6
|
0.7
|
0.5
|
|
Indonesia
Logs
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Lumber
|
0.4
|
0.5
|
0.5
|
0.5
|
0.5
|
|
Others Logs
|
1.5
|
2.2
|
2.4
|
2.1
|
2.2
|
|
Lumber
|
0.2
|
0.2
|
0.2
|
0.2
|
0.3
|
|
Subtotal Logs
|
10.1
|
7.7
|
6.9
|
6.1
|
5.7
|
|
Lumber
|
1.3
|
1.5
|
1.4
|
1.4
|
1.3
|
|
Russia Logs
|
4.2
|
5.0
|
4.8
|
5.4
|
5.4
|
|
Lumber
|
0.2
|
0.3
|
0.4
|
0.4
|
0.4
|
|
New Zealand Logs
|
1.9
|
1.7
|
1.9
|
1.9
|
2.1
|
|
Lumber
|
0.2
|
0.2
|
0.3
|
0.3
|
0.3
|
|
Others Logs
|
0.4
|
0.9
|
1.2
|
1.3
|
1.1
|
|
Lumber
|
0.5
|
0.9
|
1.1
|
1.7
|
2.0
|
|
Total Logs
|
25.9
|
23.4
|
22.4
|
21.9
|
21.3
|
|
Lumber
|
9.0
|
10.6
|
10.8
|
11.8
|
12.3
|
|
Lumber/(Logs+Lumber)
%)
|
25.9
|
31.2
|
32.5
|
35.0
|
36.5
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Source: Customs Clearance
Statistics (Ministry of Finance).
Imports of laminated wood and
wood panels
(1000 m3; 1000 tons
for fibreboard)
|
|
1992
|
1993
|
1994
|
1995
|
1996
|
|
Laminated
wood
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
18
|
18
|
30
|
43
|
68
|
|
(2)
|
21
|
59
|
89
|
148
|
319
|
|
Wood panels
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Plywood
|
2 985
|
4 087
|
4 045
|
4 394
|
5 314
|
|
Particle board
|
126
|
179
|
347
|
361
|
553
|
|
Fibre board
|
104
|
225
|
307
|
309
|
356
|
Notes: (1) is laminated lumber
for fittings and (2) is structural laminated
lumber
Source: Customs
Clearance Statistics (Ministry of Finance)
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