apan imported over 71,700 cubic meters of lumber from Russia’s Far East in April, marking a 43% year-on-year increase.
Russia has become Japan’s largest source of lumber imports, outpacing Sweden, Canada, and Finland.
Japan imported a total of 343,700 cubic meters of lumber in April—up 73% compared to last year.
That is according to new data provided by the Japanese Ministry of Finance, revealing that Japan—the world’s fourth largest importer of timber—imported 343,700 cubic metres of lumber for April (an increase of 73% on last year), with the lion’s share coming from Russia, Sweden (71,700 cubic metres), Canada (67,800 cubic metres), and Finland (62,100 cubic metres).
Despite international pressure, Japan has not imposed sanctions on Russian timber, pulp, or glulam.
Japan, along with the U.S. and Australia, maintains relatively soft restrictions on Russian wood products.
Over 130 environmental and trade groups, as well as Ukraine’s parliament, have urged global allies to sanction Russian timber.
European industry groups have called on the EU to press Japan to fully ban Russian wood imports.