The 2nd Plywood Supply and Demand Information Exchange Meeting for Disaster Recovery of the Great East Japan Earthquake

1.Outline of the meeting

The 2nd Plywood Supply and Demand Information Exchange Meeting for Disaster Recovery of the Great East Japan Earthquake was held by Forestry Agency and plywood organizations, on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

2.Date and Venue

Date: April 20, 2011

Venue: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

3.Participants

Japan Plywood Manufacturers' Association

Japan Plywood Wholesalers' Association

Japan Lumber Importers' Association

Japan Wood-Products Information & Research Center

Japan Federation of Wood-Industry Associations

National Federation of Forest Owners' Co-operative Associations

National Federation of Wood Material Production Industry Cooperative Associations

Japan Federation of Natural Wood Decorative Plywood and Veneer Industry Co-operative Associations

4.Outcome

Plywood is being produced with full force and its shipping volume is increasing. Despite some difference by its kind, since plywood shipment is recovering, its domestic supply is stabilizing.
Just after the earthquake, because of the traffic disturbance, it was difficult to obtain plywood for contractors. But now, while it is not enough in some areas, its supplying volume is increasing and the situation will be improved.
Due to supply uncertainty based on damaged plywood factories, end-users ordered plywood redundantly or tried to obtain materials more than their necessity. This created a surge in demand for plywood and “anticipatory demand”.
After the earthquake, trading companies expanded imports of plywood and such plywood will reach Japan as early as the end of April or May. There was an observation that the price of the imported plywood, mainly for concrete formwork, is rising by cost-up (the increase of the cost of raw materials at the place of origin).
Material woods to produce plywood at the factories in Japan are being supplied smoothly. The problem is to find the supply destination of the material woods which logging agents in Tohoku region had delivered to damaged plywood factories.
It is necessary to closely monitor the trends of supply and demand and plywood price, with continuously providing and sharing accurate information.

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