Russian Government introduces duties on the export of timber with a moisture content of over 22%

The duty rates for softwood and oak timber will be 10% but not less than €13 and €15 per 1 m³ respectively. Earlier, there were no duties for these categories. The export duty rates on beech and ash timber will also be 10%, but not less than €50 per 1 m³. Earlier, they were €10 and €12 per 1 m³ respectively.

The duties will be effective from July 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021. It is supposed that they will allow to limit the export of unprocessed and roughly processed timber disguised as sawn timber, to curb the rise in prices for it, as well as to repurpose the businesses to the production of products with high added value.

The Russian government, as instructed by Vladimir Putin, is concurrently working on broader restrictions on the export of timber.