Europe has overtaken North America as the largest supplier of OSB to the Japanese market, according to industry newsletter Random Lengths.
Figures compiled by Japan’s ministry of finance show that European producers had a 50.9% slice of the market in the first half of 2004, while North America accounted for a 47.7% share – down from 87.5% just three years ago.
The turnaround is attributed to a strong North American domestic market and a reluctance in Japan to pay higher prices. US and Canadian producers have being shipping limited volumes at more appealing prices to maintain a market presence, but continuing price increases persuaded Japanese buyers to look at alternatives.
OSB makes up only 5% of the Japanese panel market. North American exporters intend to regain market share by targeting plywood buyers rather than take on the Europeans.
