Woodworking overtook pulp and paper to top growth rates in the Russian forest products industry during the first half of 2005.
A report by Moscow-based Lesprom Industry Consulting shows the woodworking sector’s growth index was 107.5% during the six month period, up from 100.5% a year ago.
The pulp and paper index stood at 103.5%, compared to 106.3% during the first half of 2004.
Logging continues to be the weakest part of the industry, with a 90.9% index.
During the last three years sawnwood production has grown by 2.5 million m3, while plywood output has risen 230,000m3. Flakeboard production jumped 750,000m3 and MDF by 828,000m3, with more than 80% of the increased capacities due to foreign investments.
Lesprom says the lockouts in Finland’s paper industry caused serious difficulties for Russia’s pulp and paper industry and roundwood exporters, who were unable to find new markets for their logs during the dispute. Coniferous sawlog prices have fallen by 25%, while the logging industry had accumulated about one million m3 of wood by the end of the lockout.
