The Russian government is not considering lifting the ban on the export of logs, which will enter into force in 2022, RIA news cited Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Trutnev. Source: Lesprom

“The government of the Russian Federation has made a decision to gradually increase export duties”, said Yuri Trutnev. “This year, the duty is 80%. Next year, the ban on the export of logs comes into force. This is done in order to create jobs in the forestry industry, to build processing plants.”

He noted that the government is not considering any issues related to the abolition of protective duties.

“We proceed from the assumption that the export of logs will be prohibited next year,” said Mr Trutnev.

The state-owned company for the export of logs is being considered as one of the measures for the transition period, he added.

Russia is one of the world’s largest wood exporters. In 2020, Russian exports of softwood logs fell by 18.8% y-o-y to 6,9 million m3, while the average price dropped 3.8% to US$76.0 per m3.