In 2015, the EU’s import of wood from the Russian Federation markedly decreased in volume terms, whereas wood transport by road increased.
In January–November 2015, the EU’s import of wood from Russia totaled 9,791,000 tonnes, which represents a decrease of 13.3% in year-on-year terms. The same period saw a significant redistribution of freight traffic between modes of transport.
Wood supplies from Russia to the EU by sea dropped by 41.2% year-on-year during the first 11 months of 2015 to 2,806,000 tonnes. Transport by rail remained virtually unchanged at 3,446,000 tonnes. Deliveries by road hiked by 14.4% to 3,539,000 tonnes, markedly exceeding transport by sea in 2015.
The EU’s import of wood from the Russian Federation, Jan–Nov 2014 vs. Jan–Nov 2015, by mode of transport, and change, yr-on-yr
EU’s wood import by road
Finland accounted for more than half (58%, 2,066,000 tonnes) of the total wood import from Russia delivered by road in January–November 2015. With its long land frontier with the Russian Federation and convenient seaports in the Baltic basin (to transship wood farther to North, Central, and Western Europe) Finland is the chief importer of Russian wood. Wood deliveries to Finland by road went up by 7.2% year-on-year in the first 11 months of 2015.
The second-largest importer of Russian wood is Estonia, with a share of 9.1%, or 323,000 tonnes in volume terms in January–November 2015. Wood supplies to Estonia by road edged up by 2.4%.
Germany’s import of Russian wood increased for both sea and road transport. Import supplies by road increased by 6.6% year-on-year in January–November 2015, to reach 292,000 tonnes, which represents a share of 8.3% of overall wood supplies by road to the EU.
The Netherlands, despite its huge sea transport capacity and lengthy land connections to Russia, cut its import of Russian wood by sea and increased transport by road, which is a peculiar trend of 2015 regarding Russian wood deliveries. In January–November 2015, the Netherlands more than trebled Russian wood import by road to 169,000 tonnes, becoming the EU’s fourth-largest importer of Russian wood by road transport with a share of 4.8%.
Poland ranks fifth in terms of Russian wood import by road, with a share of 4.1%. In volume terms, deliveries hiked by 74.8% year-on-year.
EU’s wood import from Russia by road, Jan–Nov 2014 vs. Jan–Nov 2015, by EU member states, tonnes
TELS Marketing Department, based on Eurostat data