抄録
The structure of wood import in Japan has been changing recently, especially since 1993. The first distinctive features is reduction of logs import, the second one is increase of wood products import with diversification of items and the third is multilateralization of partner countries. Considering reduction of logs import, although almost all of imported logs had been traditionally natural logs, it is a time to start shifting from natural logs importation to planted logs.
Typical examples of those changes are increase of North American lumber which exceeded log importation volume, increase of European lumber especially from Nordic countries and increase of wood based panel products with multi-lateralization of partner countries.
Since those changes occur as sharply as Yen value rises from 1992 to 1993, there is a viewpoint that it brought by the affection of Yen value. But analyzing the statistics Forest Products by FAQ, however which has a disadvantage publishing date only until 1993, reduction logs with shift from natural one to planted one, slight increase of lumber and increase of wood based panel products in wood trade are made clear. Also in the world there are structural changes of producing and trade affected by the groval environmental movement, namely by the trend to aim sustainable management, which has get power since early 1990s.
