Russia cuts unprocessed timber supplies to EAEU countries 11% in 9M - agency

MOSCOW. Nov 5 (Interfax) - Russian supplies of round timber to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) stood at around 173,000 cubic meters in January-September 2024, down 11% year-on-year from 195,000 cubic meters in 9M 2023, the press service of the Federal Forestry Agency (Rosleskhoz) said.

The largest amount of supplies went to Kazakhstan, which imported 167,500 cubic meters of unprocessed timber in 9M, compared to 180,800 cubic meters last year.

Kyrgyzstan imported 4,590 cubic meters of round timber, compared to 11,800 cubic meters in 9M 2023, Belarus 875,400 cubic meters versus 1,100 cubic meters and Armenia 618.2 cubic meters versus 693.1 cubic meters.

The Russian government's resolution no. 380 of March 2022 defines the maximum amounts of unprocessed timber exports to EAEU member states, Rosleskhoz said. A ban on exports has been in force for certain types of timber since 2022.

"The maximum level of exports set by the Russian government has not been exhausted by the EAEU countries. In fact, 11% less [than this level] was exported. This indicates the effectiveness of the measures taken by the Russian government to process wood within Russia," Pyotr Mikka, head of the Department for Information Systems Development and the State Forest Register at Rosleskhoz, was quoted as saying on the supply data for January to September.