Russia: Timber industry officials warn of multi-year decline and urge urgent action

Russia’s forestry sector is sliding deeper into a systemic downturn, with falling output, shrinking export markets and mounting structural pressures raising doubts about the industry’s ability to operate sustainably in the coming years. Against this backdrop, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia and major producers are accelerating work on a new development strategy for the sector through 2035. Official statistics underline the scale of the slowdown. In the first nine months of 2025, lumber production fell by 1.6%, plywood output declined by 3%, and pulp production dropped by 1.5%. Logging volumes are expected ...