Russia considers postponing the planned increase of its export duties on roundwood timber by yet another year.

According to reports in Russian news media during the last week, the country is considering postponing the planned increase of the Russian export duties on certain qualities of roundwood timber until 2011.

The reason is, according to Russian media, the current crisis in the international economy, which, among other things, has made it difficult to expand the domestic wood fiber processing industry in Russia as planned.

According to Paavo VДyrynen, Finnish Minister of Foreign trade, who a few days ago met with the Russian Minister of Economy, the issue of wood export duties will be disussed by the Russian authorities during the autumn, probably in October. VДyrynen also said that birch is likely to be excluded from the export duty scheme.