Prior Group - Russia - New Zealand - Новая Зеландия - Россия

In April 2008 Russia increased export tariffs on round timber by 25% and announced further increase to stimulate its timber processing. Due to the export tariff increase Russian timber exports to China, the main buyer of Russian timber, fell significantly. In Jan-Oct 2009 timber imports from Russia made up 54.17% of total Chinese timber imports, compared to 63% of total Chinese timber imports in the same period in 2008. New Zealand appears to have been a beneficiary: import of timber to China from New Zealand increased by 148% in 2009 compared to 2008.