Japan's home prices rising over 2% annually as lumber prices grew 10-20% in the last 3 months

Posted on August 1, 2022   |  

• The shortage of lumber and plywood in Japan was aggravated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
• Russia ceased lumber exports to Japan, which increased the lumber and panel prices in Japan by 10-20% in the last 3 months.
• In June, lumber and wood products were over 43.4% year-over-year and entered Japan’s housing market, where prices were already 2% higher from the start of the year.
• Russia's invasion of Ukraine stopped exports of logs, single-ply boards, and other products to Japan and unfriendly nations.
• The international forest certification organization also discontinued the certification of Russian lumber in March, which decreased distribution volume.