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Russian "Izvestia" reported that from July 1, 2021, the Russian government will impose a 10% export tariff on some rough-processed wood (wood with a humidity exceeding 22%) to restrict unprocessed and rough-processed wood in the name of sawn timber. Exports have curbed domestic sawn timber prices and stimulated timber companies to produce high value-added products.

According to relevant laws and regulations, the export tariff of coniferous forest and oak per cubic meter shall not be less than 13 euros and 15 euros (previously no tariffs are levied), and the export tariffs per cubic meter of beech and ash shall not be less than 50 euros (previously per cubic meter). 10 euros and 12 euros per cubic meter), the policy is valid for 6 months.

Deep processing of wood will promote the production of planed wood, fiberboard and biofuels. Large timber companies support the Russian government's taxation measures, but are concerned about how the customs determine the humidity performance of exported sawn timber. The alliance of Russian industrialists and entrepreneurs is skeptical that the imposition of export duties can reduce illegal logging. Experts call for attention to the issue of forest replanting.

The director of the Russian Forestry Information Center Chasin said that the collection of export tariffs is a specific measure to implement the "Forestry Complex Development Strategy by 2030". The purpose is to maintain the balance of interests between the forestry complex and forest farms, and to realize the raw material-oriented export of Russian timber. The goal is to transform the forestry sector’s contribution to Russia’s GDP, increase the output of sawn timber by 55%, increase the output of particleboard by 30%, increase the output of plywood by 40%, and increase the output of paper and cardboard by 30%.

Small forestry enterprises need a long time and obtain state support to realize the reorganization of wood processing. For this reason, the preferential loan program for the modernization of wood processing has been launched on January 1, 2021.

Tarasov, director of the Voronezh National Nature Reserve, said that the levy of export tariffs is to prepare for the ban on log exports in January 2022, which will help improve Russian sawn timber production technology, improve Russian sawn timber international competitiveness, and create more High-income jobs and increase the budgetary revenue of governments at all levels.

Experts from the Union of Russian Industrialists and Entrepreneurs believe that the imposition of tariffs will not have a direct impact on illegal logging, and its main purpose is to promote the development of deep timber processing industries in Siberia and the Far East.

Shmakov, director of the Russian Forest Management Council, said that the imposition of tariffs can curb the rise in the price of domestic wood raw materials in the short term, and ensure that high value-added wood product manufacturers such as paper, dry sawn timber and furniture purchase raw materials at acceptable prices. Fundamentally solve the problem of global timber shortage.

The main reason for the shortage of wood is the low efficiency of multiple planting of precious wood. According to official data, about 50%-57% of artificially planted trees died due to improper technology, poor quality of planting materials and lack of care within 5 years. In the next 5-15 years, about 50%-57% of artificially planted trees died. Ninety percent of artificially planted trees died due to improper care.