world news - 02.04.2008
Russian timber protectionism
Russia has about thirty percent of
the world's timber reserves, but has an underdeveloped timber
processing industry. The sector is in major need of investments both in
industrial capacities and in infrastructure. Russia last year exported forestry products worth 8 billion USD,
half of which was unprocessed timber. At the same time, the importers
of the Russian timber themselves sold processed forestry products worth
12 billion USD. Russia now intends to catch up with the forestry processing
countries. According to Russian authorities, the amount of investments
in the sector is already increasing rapidly. Already from April this year, the tariffs are increasing with 25 percent to about 15 EUR per cubic meter.
From 1 January 2009 Russia increases timber export tariffs to 75 USD
per cubic meter in a bid to boost domestic forestry processing. The
five-fold tariff increase in less that a year now triggers major
problems among the foreign timber importers.
See also:
- — Canada must adapt to climate impact on forests
- — Pulpmills in Finland and Sweden increase pulpwood imports as domestic wood fiber costs rise
- — EU urges Russia to reconsider rise in export duties on timber
- — European paper/forest products companies face continued decline in credit quality
- — Illegal cuttings and the world market of wood