Russia increasing export duties for roundwood gradually February 09, 2007
The Russian government has decided to increase the export duty levied on roundwood timber – excepting birch timber with a diameter less than 15 cm – from 4 euro to at least 10 euro per cubic metre. Export duty on aspen, which is now free from duty, will be 5 euro per cubic meter. These changes will take affect on 1 July 2007. From the beginning of April 2008, the export duty on roundwood timber will increase to 15 euro per cubic metre; a further increase to at least 50 euro per cubic meter is scheduled for the beginning of 2009. In case the increased export duties are put into action despite of Russia's WTO membership negotiations, roundwood imports from Russia will eventually become unprofitable.
It is necessary to activate immediate measures to increase the production and the amount of domestic wood on the market which was also outlined in the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's review of the forest sector’s future in November 2006. The announced gradual increases on Russian export duties leave our industry a limited time period to adjust, even though measures aimed at ensuring the raw material supply have been launched.
