Softwood lumber imports up by 563,000 m³

Article by Philipp Matzku (translated by Eva Guzely) | 03.10.2024 - 10:28

In the first eight months, Japan increased its softwood lumber imports by 27% compared to last year. With the exception of Chile, all Top 10 supplying countries recorded increases in their trade volumes.

From January to August, Japan imported 2.6 million m³ of softwood lumber, recording a year-on-year increase of 563,000 m³ or 27%. Imports from the Top 3 supplying countries alone (Canada, Sweden and Finland), amounted to around 1.6 million m³ and thus accounted for 59% of Japan’s total imports, according to Statistics of Japan.

584,000 m³ (+30%) of softwood lumber were purchased from Canada, 522,000 m³ (+38%) from Sweden and 461,000 m³ (+19%) from Finland. Russia follows in fourth place with a trade volume of 363,000 m³ (+14%).

Austria, Japan’s third most important European supplier, was able to increase its shipments by 19% to 126,000 m³ in the first eight months. Japan also doubled its purchases from other European countries in the Top 10, to be precise from Germany (101,000 m³; +116%), Romania (100,000 m³; +136%) and the Czech Republic (67,000 m³; +108%).

109,000 m³ of softwood lumber were imported from Chile in the months from January to August 2024. Year on year, this corresponds to a 10% decrease (2023: 121,000 m³).