Declining of sawn timber exports from Russia: 2008-2009 Vs 2020

In the global financial crisis the downward trend lasted for six consecutive quarters in 2008-2009 (from Q4 2007 to Q1 2009). The strongest decline was in the European direction: exports from Russia dropped by 27% (which was the highest figure among all foreign sales markets of Russia). Demand for Russian sawn timber in the European market began to recover in Q3 2009.

As for now, the decline has been persisting for two consecutive quarters: there was a negative dynamics in the exports of sawn timber from Russia in Q4 2019 and in Q1 2020.

In Q1 2020, sales of sawn timber from Russia to Japan fell by 15%, as well as exports to China fell by 15% till 3.9 million м³. This is the minimum volume over the two years and the highest rate of decline in the entire history of exports of sawn timber from Russia to China.

Read more details at Russian Timber Journal 05-2020.