Japan Housing Starts Report for June 2025
Permitting issues continued to weigh on housing in June as total starts declined 15.6% to 55,956 units. Owner occupied housing fell 16.4% compared to a 14.0% fall in rental housing. The mansion condominium market plunged 27.9%. Wooden housing dropped 11.9% to 33,794 units. That said, wood as a share of total housing hit 60% for a new record high. Post and beam starts fell 14.2% to 25,107 units. Pre-fab housing declined 9.6% to 7,486 units. Platform frame starts held up relatively well, easing 5.7% to 7,756 units. The share of 2×4 housing approached 14% of all housing. By housing type 2×4 customer ordered owner occupied homes fell 3.8% to 2,401 units, rentals fell 4.1% to 4,804 units and built for sale spec homes fell 27.2% to 511 units.
Japan Non-Residential Construction Report for June
June total non-residential starts were flat at 3,769 units, but total floor area declined 2% to 2,459,234m2. June wooden starts fell 13% to 1,178 units and floor area also declined 20% to 221,233m2. However, total year to date wooden starts increased 6.0% to 7,828 units and floor area expanded 4% to 1,458,037m2. Leading segments for wood use were Medical, Elderly Care & Social Welfare, Business Services, Restaurants and Accommodation (Hotels), Mixed Residential / Commercial and Other.