抄録
The objective of this study is to define the characteristics and the factors of development of Hita timber market as a developing domestic timber-producing area. Increasing imported timber greatly damage the domestic timber, economically speaking, forcing a number of weak-producing districts to decline. Although the imported timber is on the demand, the sawmill industry in Hita is developing wherein the domestic sawlogs are concentrated. The number of sawmills did not change at around 130 mills but the arrival quantity of sawlogs have remarkably exceed to 400,000m^3 in 1988. The development of the sawmills industry is characterized by the following: First is the development of Hita Forestry wherein Sugi has been planted since the Meiji period and where the resources are compalatively matured. Log production reaches to about 240,000 m^3 and a large volume of log consumption is supplied to Hita timber market. Second is the development of the sawtimber market. Presently, eight markets make up the area for sawlog collection and caused the remarkable expansion of business. Third, sawmills have specialized according to the size of logs and the kind of sawn products eventually increasing their productivity. Moreover, although a sawmill is of small-quantity production, a great number of the same specialized sawmill brings about mass supply system within the producing district. Fourth, most products are sold over Kyushu area and recently, shipment to Tokyo were remarkably increased by joint sale. With the establishament of arrangement and expansion of the sales network, the sawmills at an advantage over their regional competitors.
