WhatWood: Reduction of roundwood customs duties increased hardwood exports from Russia

Following the results of the first half-year of 2013, the volume of roundwood export from Russia increased by 3.3% compared to the first half of 2012 up to 8.4 million m3 (excluding the countries of Customs Union, e.g. Belarus and Kazakhstan), as stated in a study “Export of roundwood from Russia in the first half-year of 2013” conducted by the analytic department of WhatWood News & Analytics.

Statistical export value fell by 2.3% at the same time, due to changes in the species composition. In the first half of 2013, the share of hardwoods in exports amounted to 34%, which is 12 percentage points higher year-on-year.

The change in the species composition of exports was determined largely by the leading importers. Deliveries of Russian raw timber to China, which mainly imports conifers (89%), declined by 11.2% year-on-year, while exports to Finland, which purchases mainly hardwood timber (85%), grew by 76.5%.

Reduction of customs duties for round timber (according to the regulation as of 21 July 2012 #756 of the Russian Government), associated with Russia’s accession to WTO, led to growth in volumes of hardwood exports. However, the expected growth occurred only in October 2012.

To order the study please contact our analytic service: research@whatwood.ru

==-PURCHASE THE STUDY-==