Russia extends timber industry exports by auto transport via additional points on border with China, Mongolia through 2026

MOSCOW. Nov 27 (Interfax) - The Russian government has extended by two years, until January 1, 2025, the possibility of exporting certain types of timber industry products by motor transport through an additional six checkpoints on the border with China and Mongolia.

The corresponding government resolution was signed on November 22 and published on the pravo.gov.ru website.

The decision was made "to support timber industry enterprises, which found themselves in a difficult transportation and logistics situation due to the impact of economic sanctions imposed by a number of unfriendly states," the Industry & Trade Ministry said in a statement.

"The stability and availability of all types of export logistics routes is a key factor in the operations of the timber processing complex," the ministry said.

Checkpoints for the export of unprocessed (except for coniferous and valuable hardwoods) and roughly processed wood and sawn timber (TC VED codes 4403-4404 and 4406-4407) established for different modes of transport by government decree No.510 from July 15, 2010. For motor vehicles, exportation on the Chinese section of the border is provided through two points (Zabaikalsk and Kani Kurgan), on the Mongolian section - through one (Kyakhta). In April 2022, the government temporarily increased their number by five (Pogranichny, Kraskino, Markovo, Poltavka and Turiy Rog) and two (Khandagaiti and Tashant), via decree No.747. This decision was to expire on January 1, 2024.