WhatWood Agency has completed an update to its annual survey OSB market in Russia 2020-2021

OSB output keeps growing in Russia In 2020, it grew by +18% compared to 2019. Increased production volumes at Kronospan Ufa, Kronospan Yegoryevsk and Kalevala DOK were the major contribution to this output growth, with small-capacity plants doing their bit.

Almost all OSB consumed in the domestic market is manufactured inside the country. Imported OSB mostly arrives to Russia from Belarus – from Kronospan OSB (Mogilev). After OSB consumption reduced by more than 9% in 2019, the consumption growth in Russia’s domestic market increased by 21% YoY in 2020, although April and May 2020 saw a sharp decline due to the pandemic.

Export from Russia is growing every year. In 2020, OBS export volume increased by 30%. China became the biggest importer for the first time, leaving behind Kazakhstan that had been the leader by OSB export volumes from Russia since 2013. OSB produced in Russia is getting exported to an ever growing number of destinations. In 2020, the Russian product was shipped to markets in New Zealand, Uganda, Angola and Madagascar for the first time. The role of CIS regions in the Russian export reduced – their share declined by 8 percentage points, from 57% in 2019 to 49% by 2020 performance. It is obvious that Russian producers are actively expanding their sales geography and entering highly profitable markets of non-CIS states.

In H1 2021, OSB import in Russia dropped by 50% compared to H1 2020 and by 68% compared to H2 2020. Russia became self-reliant, satisfying its needs with OSB boards produced inside the country, but Kronospan OSB (Mogilev) still accounts for most of the OSB volume imported to Russia.

Prices in the Russian market surged to a historical high – by more than three times. Q2 2021 saw the greatest rise in OSB prices. Weak signs of stabilization or even price reduction emerged in June but not in all local markets or traders.

For the detailed report on the state of the Russian OSB market, read the annual review titled OSB market in Russia 2020-2021.

OSB market in Russia 2020-2021 analytical review includes:

• • Analysis of the current situation in the Russian OSB market up to H1 2021;
  • Production, export, import and installed capacity volumes in Russia from 1997 to H1 2021;
  • Analysis and forecast of construction industry development in Russia;
  • OSB comparison to other types of wood-based panels;
  • Financial indicators of Russia’s biggest producers;
  • Companies’ shares in production, capacities, sales and export;
  • Market prices for Russian OSB by specifications in the domestic and the export market;
  • List of biggest Russian OSB buyers in export markets;
  • List of announced, implemented and suspended investment projects on creating OSB capacities in Russia, broken down by the current project status;
  • Forecast of OSB import, export, production and consumption in Russia: three scenarios until 2031.

Read detailed information in the annual review OSB market in Russia 2020-2021.