Total consumption of plywood in 2009 was 5,140,000
cubic metres down 16.5% on 2008, the lowest for 41 years
according to the JLR. Imported plywood was particularly
hard hit dropping just over 20% while consumption of
domestic plywood fell slightly less at about 12%. The
depressed state of the plywood sector is mainly as a result
of the collapse in house building across Japan.
The following table provides details of consumption and
sources of supply.
Japan housing starts
2009 plywood sources
|
000's cu.m
2009
|
2009 as % 2008
|
Malaysia
|
1,515.20
|
76.5
|
Indonesia
|
846.5
|
95.1
|
China
|
409.3
|
68.1
|
New Zealand
|
29.6
|
90.3
|
Canada
|
4,9
|
69.5
|
Others
|
38.5
|
81.7
|
Import total
|
2,844.0
|
79.9
|
Domestic
production
|
2,296.10
|
88.3
|
of which: softw
ood
|
1,948.70
|
94.4
|
source JLR