Press release: Russian lumber export sets new record

2016-02-04

With a rapidly declining rate of the ruble and falling domestic consumption, the Russian export of lumber is increasing to new record levels. Exports increased by 17% in November 2015 compared to same month of 2014. During January-November the export increased by 6% compared to 2014. This means an increased competition in some markets for among others; Swedish, Finnish and Canadian sawmills, says Jenny Wessung, CEO of research company Woodstat. Egypt is now the largest pine lumber market for Swedish sawmills and the exported volume is now nearly twice as large as the volume to United Kingdom. If we go back 10 years in time, the exported volume to the UK was several times greater than to Egypt. As shown in the chart, it is a constant battle in market shares between Swedish and Russian sawmills in the Egyptian market. Lack of Western currencies is another factor affecting the market today.

The Russian sawmills are increasing their exports also to other markets, such as China, South Korea and Iran. At the same time it has been a decrease in export to the former Soviet Republics. We have reasons to follow the Russian export in the near future, says Jenny Wessung.

For more information contact:
Jenny Wessung, CEO
Woodstat AB
+46 (0)70 660 40 46
jenny.wessung@woodstat.com
http://www.woodstat.com 


About Woodstat
Since 2007 Woodstat delivers comprehensive statistics and analysis to sawmills, forest owners and banks across the world. Woodstat publishes approximately 400 issues of the newsletter "Market News" every year. The Market News are concise and contain the latest market statistics for the manufactured lumber product industry. Woodstat's charts collection is available at www.woodstat.com and contains hundreds of relevant diagrammatic data for anyone working in the wood or forest industry.