2017 International Forest Industries Magazines April May 2017 | Page 32

LUMBER PROCESSING NEWS – ENGINEERED WOOD PRODUCTS Japan’s production of softwood plywood up 1.4% in January Japan’s production of softwood plywood in January 2017 was 227,700 cubic metres, 1.4% more than January last year and 4.6% less than December, ITTO reports. Fewer working days in December by year-end holidays and lower efficiency of drying by cold weather in the North East and Japan Sea side plants caused lower production. The shipment in December was 235,000 cubic metres, 1.1% less and 1.8% less. The shipment exceeded production by 7,200 cubic metres. Precutting plants were busy in January to catch up delayed orders.Plywood plants continue full production because mills in Eastern Japan carry about a month of delivery delay and Western Japan mills have maximum of three months of delay. The inventory dropped down to 83,300 cubic metres, 7,200 cubic metres less than December so tightness continues. January arrivals of imported plywood were 308,500 cubic metres, 17.4% more and 32.1% more. Malaysia supplied 133,400 cubic metres, 28.5% and 51.8% more. Indonesia 88,500 cubic metres, 6.5% and 23.2% more; China 69,000 cubic metres. Brazilian exports of wood-based products increased by 20% in January In January 2017 Brazilian exports of wood-based products (except pulp and paper) increased 20% in value compared to January 2016, from $175.2 million to $210.3 million, ITTO reports. .The value of pine sawnwood exports fell 82% between January 2016 ($20.2 million) and January 2017 ($3.7 million). In terms of volume the change was 102,000 cubic metres in January 2015 to just 18,000 cubic metres this January. In contrast, the volume of tropical sawnwood exports rose 32% from 24,800 cubic metres in January 2016 to 32,800 cubic metres in January this year. However the value of these exports increased by just 13% from $12.1 30 International Forest Industries | APRIL / MAY 2017 million in January last year to $13.7 million this year.Brazil’s pine plywood exports increased 31% in value in January 2017 in comparison with January 2016 levels, from $26.6 million to $34.8 million. In volume terms exports increased 29% over the same period.Tropical plywood exports from Brazil increased significantly in volume and in value in January this year rising from 6,200 cubic metres ($2.2 million) in January 2016 to 10,600 cubic metres ($3.9 million).The value of wooden furniture exports also rose in January from $23.6 million in January 2015 to $26.6 million in January this year.