How the Iran crisis could affect China and Russia’s wood products trade

The fighting around Iran and the disruption in and around the Strait of Hormuz are creating a new layer of risk for timber and panel exporters, not because China or Russia depend on Gulf demand alone, but because the crisis hits the two things the wood trade needs most: cheap logistics and stable input costs. Reuters reported this week that Gulf shipping had been severely disrupted, with tankers stranded for days and carriers rerouting vessels, while the wider conflict was already pushing up oil and gas risks. That matters for wood products because longer voyages, tighter container availability, higher insurance ...