Nov 07, 2008. /Lesprom.com/. Roundwood timber exports from Latvia fell by 7.8% in the first eight months of this year when compared to the same period in 2007, figures show. Data released by the Latvian Ministry of Agriculture's Forestry Department reveals the country exported 2.31 million cubic metres of the substance in the first two-thirds of 2008, reports the Baltic Course. This compares to 2.5 million cubic metres in the comparable time period in 2007. So far in 2008, the value of Latvian roundwood timber exports stands at 94.19 million lats ($188 million). Recently, Reuters reported that EU ministers are discussing ways to clamp down on illegal timber imports. According to the European Commission, unlawful logging costs timber-producing nations around Euro15 billion a year. Any system is likely to see exporters having to obtain licences which prove their wood does not come from endangered rainforests and will try to avoid placing to great a burden on legitimate producers.