Russian Timber Journal 02-2018: China is increasing the import of birch veneer logs from Russia while Russian timber supplies to Finland are shrinking

In 2017, China reduced purchasing roundwood from Russia by 0.8% yoy, but the demand for Russian birch veneer logs increased by 23% yoy. Export of pine roundwood decreased by 8%.

Finland also reduced purchasing of roundwood from Russia but at higher rates of 12% yoy. Export of pine sawlog dropped by 40%. Sales of hardwood roundwood decreased less aggressively. Sales of birch pulplogs with diameter more than 15 cm dropped by 8.5% yoy to 2.9 million m3 while sales of birch pulplogs with diameter less than 15 cm dropped by 16% to 912,000 m3.

The analysis of roundwood sales volumes of from Russia to China and Finland in terms of wood species in 2017; the list of the largest buyers of Russian timber in Finland; and the first results of 2017 in terms of timber harvesting volumes in key Russian regions read in the latest issue of the analytical Journal of Russian Timber Journal №02-2018.