Vologda region forest companies request government to cancel duties on some pulpwood grades

Jun 16, 2009. /Lesprom Network/. Directors of forest industry enterprises of Vologda region, Russia, filed a request to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, as reported by the press service of Vologodskie Lesopromyshlenniki Holding. The letter comprises request to aid forest industry as they find themselves in a marginal financial and economic position due to inability to sell birch pulpwood wider than 15 cm and aspen pulpwood that does not have demand on the internal market. Market specialists estimate that the volume of such timber till winter harvesting will amount to 1 million cubic meters in Vologda region and approximately 6-7 million cubic meters throughout the whole North-Western federal district. With existing customs duties and price level, export of these products is unprofitable, as said in the letter. As an anti-crisis measure, forest exporters ask Russian government to cancel customs duties on these products. They suppose it will soften negative economic and social impact which is possible in these conditions.