21.11.2012 − At 1.771 million m3 Russia has delivered 2% more roundwood to the EU in the first six months of 2012 than in the same stretch in 2011. In doing so, the country was able to more than offset lower deliveries to Finland, the single-most important buyer of Russian roundwood, with growing exports to Sweden and Germany. Roundwood requirements in Finland were down in the reporting period due to production curtailments in the pulp and sawmill industries. German and Swedish sawmills were also cutting production in some instances. However, buyers in those countries were forced to increase their imports in connection with tight roundwood supply. According to Eurostat, Russian deliveries to Finland fell by 10% to 1.374 million m3. At the same time, however, exports to Sweden soared 52% to 241,726m3 and deliveries to Germany increased three times over to 145,580m3.
