Russian lumber exports grow 7.1% in Jan-Feb - Rosleskhoz

MOSCOW. March 7 (Interfax) - Russian lumber exports amounted to 3.5 million cubic meters in January-February 2025, up 7.1% compared to the same period last year, when the figure was 3.2 million cubic meters, the Federal Forestry Agency's (Rosleskhoz) press service said, citing data from the Federal State Information System of the Forest Complex (FSIS FC).

The increase indicates growing demand for Russian timber in friendly states, the agency said. The largest buyers of processed wood from Russia are China, Turkey, India, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

"Since the beginning of the year, over 60,000 export transactions have been created in the system [the FSIS FC], which is slightly higher than the same period last year. Processed timber is exported to 31 countries," Rosleskhoz head Ivan Sovetnikov was quoted as saying.

Since the beginning of 2025, 1.7 million electronic accompanying documents have been created through the FSIS FC, and 60.4 million cubic meters of timber and processed wood products have been transported, matching the figure for the same period last year.

The volume of exports of coniferous and hardwood lumber from Russia in 2024 amounted to 19.9 million cubic meters, down 8% compared to 2023, the Russian Forest industry association previously told Interfax. China remained the main market accounting for about 65% of total exports.

Previously, China's General Administration of Customs published data showing that the value of lumber supplies from Russia to China fell 1.7% last year, amounting to $2.602 billion compared to $2.647 billion the previous year.