August 2021 Japan Housing Starts

Shawn Lawlor

By: Shawn Lawlor

Managing Director, Canada Wood Japan/COFI Japan

August 2021 Housing Starts

August total housing starts rose 7.5% to 74,303 units, for the 6th consecutive monthly increase. MLIT’s seasonally adjusted annual housing forecast was revised to 855,000 units. Owner occupied housing increased 14.5% compared to a 3.8% increase in rental housing. Wooden housing posted strong numbers, advancing 16.1% to 44,587 units. Post and beam starts increased 16.8% to 34,974 units. Wooden pre-fab starts fell 2.3% to 951 units but total pre-fab housing rose 11.8% to 10,713 units. Platform frame starts increased 15.7% to 8,662 units. Results of 2×4 starts by housing type were as follows: single family custom homes increased 29.6% to 3,017 units, rental housing was up 7.2% to 4,684 units and built for sale spec housing rose 21.7% to 947 units.

August 2021 Non-Residential Construction

August non-residential starts totaled 3,805 units for a floor area of 2.32 million m2. August year to date total non-residential floor area advanced 2.9% to 24.4 million m2. July wooden non-residential starts totaled 1,361 units for a floor area of 254,773m2. Year to date non-residential wooden floor area is up 3.3% to 2.1 million m2. Elderly and medical care, mixed residential & commercial and agricultural buildings led the rankings for wood use.