Wood Industry News from Russia

Completions of owner-built houses fell 26% and those in apartment buildings rose 10% so far in 2026 compared with the same period last year.

Companies want third parties to conduct forest assessments instead of relying solely on state-controlled Roslesinforg and seek protection from lease termination over delays or quality disputes.

Regional constraints, limited plantation expansion and infrastructure barriers will restrict how much additional softwood roundwood reaches markets.

Malaysia gained 10 percentage points of U.S. hardwood plywood imports as the United States imported 581 thousand m3.

Prices increased for the second consecutive year after declining in 2023.

Canadian softwood lumber producers expect difficult conditions through 2026 as weaker demand, production curtailments and U.S. trade costs pressure operations.

The industry estimate puts chemical inputs at up to 40% of particleboard costs.

Latin America remains a low‑cost source at about 95 million m3 annually while Oceania’s supply may fall by roughly three million m3 by 2035.

A strong ruble, weaker demand in China and rail-logistics bottlenecks are the main factors behind the projected decline.

Government weighs rent freeze through 2028 and bankruptcy moratorium for forest-sector firms.

China's construction crisis and higher logistics costs have cut shipments, while Russia's downgraded economic outlook limits domestic absorption of growing supply.

The U.S. posts the steepest decline among the largest softwood lumber import markets, followed by Germany and China, while supplier volumes fall most for Canada, Russia, and Austria.

Weak lumber demand and price pressure in China, a stronger ruble, and high interest costs drove asset impairments, capacity curtailments, and lower fourth-quarter sales.

Industry groups seek a three-year bankruptcy moratorium as losses top 15 billion rubles.

Lease recalculations add back charges for 2024–2025 as exports weaken and borrowing costs stay high.

Commerce issues a preliminary critical-circumstances finding; CBP to collect cash deposits on covered entries starting Monday.

Subheading Import volumes rise to 3.23 million m3 as Vietnam and Indonesia expand shipments.

Import volume falls from the 2024 high to 3.91 million tons, while the average import price rises to $145 per ton.

Softwood lumber, accounting for 90.2% of total production, decreases by 3.5%.

Regional wood shortage and high Swedish prices drive Norway’s export growth.

Softwood accounts for 97% of total import volume.

Russia maintains supply dominance, while New Zealand is the only major supplier to increase shipments.

Vietnam remains dominant supplier as hardwood accounts for 97% of total volume.

Vietnam supplies two-thirds of total imports as U.S. share declines sharply.

Draft regulation would block forest leases for underperforming firms and raise investment threshold.

Firms cite sanctions, weak exports, and lack of equipment and investment.

North American mills face tariffs and closures, Europe postpones new deforestation rules, and Russia’s forest sector enters a structural crisis.

Leader of Russia’s largest forest industry company warns of a coming wave of bankruptcies.

Finland holds 33% share of Egypt’s lumber imports, followed by Russia with 26% and Sweden with 22%, based on data from Lesprom Analytics.

Domestic supply stays constrained while import flows improve and mills raise operating rates.

Chinese buyers push prices down as Russian exporters lack alternative markets.

Industry associations report that about 7% of companies may exit the market in 2026 as costs rise and profitability declines

Driver cap slashes annual delivery volume as trucking costs rise 50%.

Rising costs, blocked access to road-building materials, and equipment shortage undermine Russia’s forest sector raw material base.

Forests in Irkutsk and Moscow regions clear-cut under guise of Defense Ministry sanitation work.

The facility, which produces structural larch plywood, is located in Amursk, Khabarovsk Krai, and is intended to supply both the Russian market and Southeast Asia.

Russian producer targets record volume despite high logistics costs and long delivery times.

Acquisition adds Kondopoga PPM, Karellestran and KLPH to Taiga Group portfolioю