Russia harvested 194.6 million m3 of timber in 2022, which is 13.5% less than in the previous year. This was reported by the state news agency TASS, citing Roslesinforg. Source: Lesprom
The reason for the decline in timber harvesting in the country was European sanctions and a ban on the export of logs introduced by the Russian government. EU sanctions led to a fall in exports and wood processing in the country and, accordingly, the demand for wood raw materials.
In all large forest regions of Russia, logging decreased last year. In the Irkutsk region, timber harvesting amounted to 27.9 million m3 (-14.5%), in the Krasnoyarsk Territory – 19.6 million m3 (-20.6%), in the Vologda region. – 14.6 million m3 (-19.6%), in the Arkhangelsk region. – 14.1 million m3 (-12.5%), in Komi – 9.1 million m3 (-5.8%).
In 2022, plywood production in Russia fell by 28.8%, while veneer and softwood lumber production decreased by 21.4% and 11.4%, respectively. Immediately after the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, many Western companies announced they would stop working on the Russian market. By the beginning of 2023, they had sold 13 wood processing, paper and cardboard factories in Russia.
