Russia’s president has announced plans to ban the exportation of softwood logs and high-value hardwood logs as of January 1, 2022 and is also considering new regulations aimed at reducing the exportation of green softwood lumber. Reducing log and green lumber exports is hoped to stimulate further value-added processing within Russia and better control illegal logging. Russia exported 15 million m3 of logs in 2020, which accounted for almost 12% of the global trade. The changes to trade flows and upward pressure on log prices may pressure China to buy more lumber and value-added forest products.
