Timber industry research & analytics Russia’s forest industry prepares for a drop in harvest volumes
Russia’s forestry sector is facing a “perfect storm.” Economic and market factors are putting pressure on the industry, raising concerns among companies, and forcing them to operate in survival mode. Medium- and long-term planning has practically lost its meaning.
It is already clear that by the end of 2025, harvest volumes are expected to decline by 3–5% compared to last year. Rosleskhoz has not yet released exact figures, but a decrease is also anticipated.
The forecast for 2026, assuming current conditions on Russian and global markets remain, also does not promise growth. Harvest volumes are unlikely to exceed 2025 levels, which WhatWood assesses as a moderately positive scenario.
An analysis of the WhatWood forecast prepared a year ago shows a full alignment with the negative scenario. The forecast assumed that, with stable consumption of finished products, harvest volumes would remain in the range of 192–196 million m³. Currently, a reduction to 187–189 million m³ is expected.
