Japan Housing and Non-residential Construction Starts- November 2022

Shawn Lawlor

By: Shawn Lawlor

Managing Director, Canada Wood Japan/COFI Japan

November 2022 Japan Housing Starts

November total housing starts trailed 1.4% to finish at 72,372 units. Owner occupied housing fell 15.1%, whereas rental housing posted an 11.4% increase for November for the 21st consecutive monthly gain. The mansion condominium market fell 1.8% in November. Wooden housing slowed 7% to 41,751 units. Post and beam starts fell 8% to 32,558 units. Wooden prefab starts were down 2.6% to 951 units as did total prefab which declined to 9,847 units. Platform frame starts fell 3.3% to 8,242 units. Results of 2×4 starts by housing type were as follows: single family custom homes fell 6% to 2,564 units, rental housing eased 1.4% to 4,768 units and built for sale spec housing dropped 5.4% to 886 units.

November 2022 Non-Residential Construction

In contrast to housing, the non-residential market is registering positive gains. November total non-residential construction starts increased 3.4% to 4,096 units. Total November wood non-residential starts increased 12.9% to 1,657 units. Wood non-residential floor area increased 8.9% to 288,230 m2. Wood’s market share of total starts stood at 40%. By order of total floor area, wooden starts were led by medical and social welfare facilities, mixed residential/commercial and restaurants & accommodation.