Russian Timber Price Soars in Suifenhe Checkpoint

VLADIVOSTOK. August 31. VOSTOK-MEDIA – The Russian-Chinese border checkpoint Suifenhe, Heilongjiang province, has registered a reduction in volumes of Russia’s timber import along with growing prices on timber, border checkpoint Suifenhe told Partnery.cn news website.



So prices on the oak timber imported from Russia have increased by 400-750 yuans per cubic meter from July; prices on Manchurian ash (Fraxinus mandschurica) timber increased by 200-400 yuans. In addition, during HY1 the Suifenhe Department of Immigration and Quarantine Control has handled/processed for inspection purposes a total of 2.33 mio cubic meters of imported timber valued at USD 282.15 mio, which is 38.5 percent and 46.34 per cent respectively less than in the same period of last year.



Experts agree that this phenomenon stems from the seasonal factors as well as from the increase on timber export tax made by Russia and tightening of control over illegal trafficking of timber.



Heilongjiang province has the largest forested area in the country. Since 1998 the China’s Government has been carrying out a programme aimed at the conservation of indigenous forest. As a result of this there is a growing demand of the China’s timber processing industry on imported timber. Russia, in particular, has become a principal supplier of timber.