Russia's wood products industry

The rapid expansion in the export of wood products continues to grow with a capital investment into the Russian forestry sector from US$ 580 million in 2002 to more than US$ 1.4 billion in 2005. Russia log exports dominate the Asian log market, with Russia supplying some 70% of China's coniferous log imports and 45% of Japan's coniferous log imports. The export of non-coniferous logs exports also expanded, with an increase from four million 3 to 13 million m3 in 2005. The limited capital that was invested in sawn lumber production during 1995-2005 was used mainly to build new dry kilns and modernize lumber processing equipment, in an effort to improve sawn lumber quality to meet export-market quality requirements. The growing rate of FSC forest certification in Russia will also greatly assist in the sales and marketing of sawn lumber and finished products into Europe and the US.