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| #                                                                     |
|                                                                       |
| # Japan: Building Products Industry                                   |
|                                                                       |
| # Housing Starts -- January 2007                                      |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Kazuhisa Takabatake                                                   |
|                                                                       |
| 3/2007                                                                |
|                                                                       |
| ID: 141708                                                            |
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####### Summary

The Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT)
announced Japan\'s total housing starts for January 2007 at a level of
92,219 units, a 0.7% decrease compared to January 2006. Year on year
starts of single-family and row houses increased 2.9% to 35,731 units
and 8.4% to 6,759 units, respectively, while multi-family dwellings
decreased 4.3% to 49,729 units. Year on year 2x4 housing starts
increased by 9.3% to 7,508 units, while prefabricated housing starts
decreased by 2.0% to 13,168 units. Seasonally adjusted housing starts on
an annual basis decreased 3.6% to 1,253,244 units in January 2006, as
compared to December 2006.

####### Housing Starts in January 2007

> The following table shows Japan's housing starts for single-family
> houses, row houses and multi-family houses, as well as the total
> housing starts. It also shows housing starts for 2x4 and prefabricated
> housing starts.

*Housing Starts in January 2006 and 2007 (Units)*

  ------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ---------------
                      Housing Starts in Housing Starts in Change from
                      January 2006      January 2007      2006 to 2007

  Single-family       34,712            35,731            2.9%

  Row House           6,234             6,759             8.4%

  Multi-family        51,953            49,729            -4.3%

  Total               92,899            92,219            -0.7%

  2x4                 6,869             7,508             9.3%

  Prefabricated       13,441            13,168            -2.0%
  ------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ---------------

Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

####### Monthly Total and 2x4 Housing Starts (Year-on-Year Comparison)

The following charts show monthly total and 2x4 housing starts from
February 2005 to January 2007.

####### Seasonally Adjusted Housing Starts

####### The following chart shows seasonally adjusted housing starts on an annual basis from February 2006 to January 2007.

####### 

####### Building Materials/Housing Mailing List

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####### For More Information

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Fax: +81-6-6315-5963 or visit our website: www.buyusa.gov/japan/en/.

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