The export of softwood logs and high-value hardwood logs from Russia will stop from January 1, 2022, as Rosleskhoz reported.
The ban will affect the activities of about 4,000 companies that were exported logs in 2020, according to the LesEGAIS system.
The volume of Russia's export of logs amounted to 15.5 million m3, or 7.2% of the total volume of harvested wood in 2020, according to the Federal Customs Service of Russia.
The Khabarovsk region (2.7 million m3), the Vologda region (2.2 million m3), Irkutsk region (1.9 million m3), Primorsky region (1.6 million m3), Leningrad region (1 million m3), Krasnoyarsk region (800 thousand m3), Karelia (700 thousand m3) are among the regions with the largest roundwood export volumes. These regions account 70% of the country's total log exports.
In value terms, the Far East amounts 42%, the maximum share of roundwood in the total volume of exports of wood and wood products. For comparison, on average this figure is 12% in Russia. Therefore, in order to minimize possible risks of log export ban and increase processing capacity, the measures are being worked out in relation to the Far Eastern Federal District.
The Ministry of Economic Development of Russia and the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East are developing "road maps" to stimulate deep wood processing in the Far East. And the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia and the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia have prepared a draft action plan for the implementation of the Strategy for the Development of the Forestry Complex until 2030, which contains a set of concrete actions and development of the Far Eastern forestry complex.
