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Historically weak start of the year for laminated timber imports

Smallest import volume since the global financial crisis of 2008

Article by Raphael Kerschbaumer (translated by Eva Guzely) | 28.02.2025 - 09:11

In January 2025, Japanese imports of glulam and CLT were well below last year’s level. Volumes purchased from main supplier Finland more than halved.

In January, Japan imported around 35,800 m³ of laminated timber. This corresponds to a 20% decrease compared to the 44,600 m³ imported last year. To find a weaker start to the year, you have to go all the way back to 2008 in the Datacube timeline. However, 2025 will mark the second smallest January volume in this millennium.

As figures published by Statistics of Japan show, shipments from main supplier Finland more than halved (8,300 m³; -57%). Germany delivered 1,000 m³ of glulam and CLT to Japan in January, which is also only half of last year’s volume.

Austrian suppliers, on the other hand, recorded a marked increase of 32% to 6,700 m³, as a result of which the country is now in second place behind Finland. Imports from Estonia (5,300 m³; +87%) and Poland (4,100 m³; +86%) nearly doubled year on year.

The developments in laminated timber imports are in line with residential construction in Japan, which is also close to a negative record.

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