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Plywood and Panel
Selling Plywood Nationwide Based on a Commitment to Stable Supply
 Sojitz Building Materials is a pioneer in the plywood business. We boast a long track record in the industry and have captured the leading position in terms of trading volume. Japan requires 8 million m3 of plywood each year, with 60% of this coming from overseas markets and the remainder sourced domestically. Sojitz Building Materials has built up high shares in both channels, handling around 25% of all imported plywood and about 20% of Japanese plywood. Aiming to capture an even greater share of the market, we plan to focus on selling more plywood made from plantation lumber rather than natural trees, and on working to encourage greater use of plywood made from domestic raw materials.
One of our strengths as a company is our nationwide sales network stretching from Hokkaido to Kyushu. We have also won the trust of customers with a management approach committed to the stable supply of high-quality products regardless of market volatility. Consequently, Sojitz Building Materials boasts an established reputation in the industry as a reliable supplier founded on a steady market share of 20-30% in all regional markets.
Lumber
Extending the Integrated Business Worldwide to Realize Stable Supplies
 Sojitz Building Materials’ lumber operations primarily fulfill a distribution role: we sell imported lumber to domestic manufacturers and then purchase and distribute finished products made from these materials. Our main activity overseas is the operation of a lumber business underpinned by the Sojitz Group’s track record and network in the field. One part of this business is a laminated wood mill in China. As the first major joint venture in the industry between only Japanese companies, such as house builders, lumber merchants, and pre-cut wood product manufacturers, this project processes Russian lumber into wood products for export to Japan. This business was established to ensure stable supplies of wood products, and as such, is highly regarded for the important role it plays. In addition to imported lumber, we also plan to enhance our sales capabilities for domestic Japanese cedar by developing products using composite materials that overcome the wood’s relative weakness and dryness.
Building Materials
Focusing on Recyclable Products to Help Protect the Global Environment
 Centered on external cladding materials and internal components, our building materials business supplies a whole range of building components and materials needed for the construction of detached housing. In external products, we carry out actual construction work in addition to sales activities. In internal components, our lineup is clearly divided into ceramic and wood products. Ceramic products include plaster board, an area where we have built up a strong reputation. Here we have forged a close reputation with a plaster board manufacturer that has captured 80% of the market in Japan. As a result, we can boast one of the leading shares in the industry in terms of volume handled. Insulation materials are another ceramics-based product we supply. In wood products, we have teamed up with domestic manufacturers of flooring, doors and other products, and we produce and sell furniture and wood fixtures through affiliates overseas. As part of our stance on protecting the global environment, we primarily handle wood products made from renewable sources. We are also focusing on the development of recyclable products such as laminated materials and fiber board that can make a difference to society.
Home Fittings
Proposing and Supplying a Wide Range of Products From Leading Manufacturers
 Sojitz Building Materials handles a wide range of home fittings for condominiums and detached housing. Thanks to comprehensive business partnerships with some of Japan’s leading manufacturers of home fittings, we are capable of sourcing products that accurately match user needs. As part of our “total support” strategic approach, we are now creating even stronger links between our home fittings business and our building construction materials and projects businesses. With eating habits, family makeup and lifestyle values continuing to diversify, this will give us the capability to respond flexibly to a variety of customer needs through a lineup of home fittings extending from kitchen, bathroom and other water-related products, to air conditioning and lighting.
Building Construction Materials and Projects
Total Support for a Broad Range of Construction Projects
 As a subcontractor for office building, shopping center and condominium construction projects, we support customers in both the supply of construction materials-primarily internal components but also external materials, foundation piles and other products-and construction work itself. In particular, we are capable of providing total support for specialist internal work such as walls and flooring, plumbing and other areas. In construction materials, we have established an internal procurement framework for plywood, one of our strengths, and home fittings, while direct relationships with manufacturers mean we can offer a diverse choice of products. Going forward, we plan to enhance our presence in air conditioning,lighting,home fittings and other fields to complement our existing wood-based and plumbing product ranges. In parallel, we aim to offer total support by supplying materials and carrying out construction work for office building and condominium projects as a “sub-general contractor.”
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