The Russian Federal Government is trying to assist development of its forest industry by adding export taxes on logs, thereby limiting competition by foreign companies for the Russian timber, as reported by Wood Resource Quarterly. These taxes are currently 25% of the log value (minimum €15/m3) for softwood logs and are scheduled to increase to [...]

The impetus provided by the Russian government, which has implemented regulations that restrict open trade of logs, Russia is slowly transforming from being a large exporter of logs to an important producer of primary processed wood products, as reported by the Wood Resource Quarterly. Seattle, USA, September 05, 2008 — The Russian Federal Government is [...]

The wood costs, which typically account for almost 50% of the production costs for a pulpmill, often determine a region’s or company’s competitiveness. Seattle, US, August 25, 2008 — Wood fiber costs, the major cost component when producing wood pulp, increased in practically all major pulp-producing regions around the world in the 2Q/08, according to [...]

As a result of the implemented and planned log export taxes in Russia, shipments of softwood logs from Russia have declined both to Europe and Asia in 2007 and 2008. In the first quarter of 2008, Russia shipped 44% less to Europe and 15% less to Asia. Seattle, USA, August 21, 2008 — Wood Resource [...]

Global trade of wood chips has more than doubled in 20 years, reaching 31 million tons in 2007. Just since 2003, total trade has increased by almost 30%. Seattle, USA, May 28, 2008 — Pulpmills in both Europe and the Pacific Rim are increasingly sourcing their mills with wood from fast-growing plantations. This has resulted [...]