Chugoku Lumber, the largest Douglas fir lumber manufacturer in Japan, decided to reduce dry beam lumber prices by 2,000 yen ($19.6) per cubic metre after lumber market has been weak since April after the consumption tax was increased by 3%. Movement of structural materials has been slowing since last January, ITTO reports.

The prices peaked in January and the movement got worse after April. Competing laminated lumber prices are also weakening. Douglas fir log export prices dropped for two straight months of April and May.