In February, exports of log from Russia to EU fall 43%, plywood 41%
April 20, 2022
Photo: Depositphotos
In February 2022, Russian log exports to the European Union fell by 43% to 195.8 thousand m3, according to Lesprom Analytics. The country’s share in European log imports decreased by 26.7 pp to 20.8%.
The volume of plywood supplies from Russia to the EU in February fell by 41%, to 80.6 thousand m3, while the price of Russian plywood almost doubled, to $741 per m3. Russia’s share in the European imported plywood market began to be occupied by Gabon and Brazil, plywood supplies from these countries to the EU in February rose sharply.
The fall in exports from Russia to the EU began after Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The EU countries have imposed a ban on the import of goods from Russia and Belarus, as well as the largest certification systems PEFC and FSC have suspended the trade certificates of these countries.
In 2021, the value of log exports from Russia to the EU was $245 million, the plywood exports was $727 million, lumber $1.39 billion, and pellets $294 million, according to Lesprom Analytics. In 2022, due to the ban on deliveries to Europe, the value of Russian timber exports may decrease by $2 billion.