Russian exports of softwood and birch logs in the first quarter fell slightly short of the figures for last year. According to information from the Russian customs authorities, softwood log exports fell by 12% in the first three months to 2.743m m³. This perpetuated until the end of March the trend that had already been observed in the fourth quarter of 2016. At that time, the exports had fallen 11% below those of the same quarter of the year before. The exports had risen in each of the preceding quarters.
The exports of birch logs decreased 7% in the first three months of this year to 1.500m m³. Exports in the fourth quarter were 4% lower than last year. The exports had also fallen in the first (-5%) and third quarters (-2%) whereas the Russian customs authorities recorded an increase of 5% for the second quarter.