2018 International Forest Industries IFI April May 2018 Digital | Page 19

LUMBER PROCESSING NEWS
Russia sees a 60.7% increase in import of
woodworking machines
In 2017, Russia sharply increased
woodworking machine imports
(+60.7%) after a decline of 15.6%
in 2016. This may indicate that
companies of Russian forest-
based industries have adapted to
the current exchange rate of the
national currency, according to the
analytical report “Russian forest-
based industries in 2017″, prepared
by Lesprom Network’s Research
Department.
Investments in fixed assets in
the production of paper and paper
products increased by 33.3%, and
investments in wood processing
(excluding furniture production) up
5.5%. In 2017, favorable situation
on foreign markets formed a steady
growing demand for the main
products of the Russian forest-
based industries. At the same time,
the turn of the national economy
from a recession to growth (GDP
grew by 1.5%) led to a revival of
demand for products for domestic
market. These trends are expected
to continue in 2018.
China remains the main
consumer of products of the
Russian forest-based industries.
In 2017, China’s share in the
Russian export of logs was 66%,
in lumber exports – 55%, in pulp
exports – 58%. According to the
World Bank, the growth of China’s
economy amounted to 6.8% in
2017, and it is expected to grow
6.4% in 2018. According to the
analytical report, the process of
structural changes in exports (from
raw materials to wood processing
products) continues: Russia’s log
exports decreased, but lumber
exports increased by 10.1% in 2017.
Overproduction in the Russian
MDF market led to an increase in
MDF exports by 36.1% compared
to 2016, and MDF exports grew
almost 2 times compared to 2014.
Growth (+34.1%) of wood
pellets production in Russia in
the coming years will continue at
a rapid pace, due to Russian and
foreign companies are planning to
launch a new production facilities
in the country, according to the
analytical report.
Increased attention of the
state to the development of the
forest-based industries and the
beginning of a number of incentive
measures for the development of
wooden housing construction can
contribute to increased demand for
lumber within the country in the
next 3-5 years.
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International Forest Industries | APRIL / MAY 2018 17