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Short-term forecast of supply and demand for major timber in the first half of 2010

The Forestry Agency recently compiled the short-term supply and demand prospects for the first half of 2010 (the first quarter and second quarter of 2010) for major timber. The forecast for demand is made based on new housing starts for each quarter, and this time, the forecast was based on 839,000 units, the average of new housing start figures for 2010 projected by 14 private financial research agencies.

The forecast figures show that figures for the April-June quarter are larger than the January-March quarter. “Demand will remain at the same pace with 2009 till the January-March quarter, and the recovery is likely to be delayed until the April-June quarter or later,” says the projection committee. It is expected that the housing eco-point system slated to be approved in a secondary supplementary budget and the policy to expand gift taxes that will become a temporary legislation will produce an effect in the summer.

• Yamaha Corporation started negotiations with Japan Industrial Partners Inc. about stock transfer of its 100% subsidiary, Yamaha Livingtec Corporation
• Sumitomo Forestry will merge its 100% subsidiary companies, Sumitomo Forestry Crest and Toyo Plywood as of March 31, 2010
• Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has announced the outline of “The Eco-Credit-Point System for Houses”