Mar 01, 2005. /Lesprom Network/. Round timber imports to Latvia increased 73.6% to 797.5 thousand cub m in 2004 compared to 2003 when round timber imports topped 459.2 thousand cub m, spokesperson for the Ministry of agriculture told LETA news agency. The cost of round timber imports reached LVL 26.4 million, up 85.9%. In 2003 round timber imports reached LVL 14.2 million. A significant part of imports is composed by softwood timber. Round timber is imported to Latvia from Russia and Lithuania – 398.2 thousand cub m and 89.0 thousand cub m respectively. Hardwood timber imports from Russia and Lithuania reached 172.8 thousand cub m and 56.9 thousand cub m respectively. The cost of Latvian exports of timber products increased LVL 66.5 million to LVL749.3 million compared to LVL 682.8 million in 2003.