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Forest Owners and Industry Worried about Russian Wood Export Duty Hikes

The Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK) wants to see measures enacted in the policy programme of the next government to secure availability of wood for the pulp and paper industry. MTK and the forest industry want to secure the paper industry's raw material needs after Russia’s decision to sharply increase export duties for felled timber.

On Tuesday representatives of the pulp and paper industry called on the upcoming government to take action to secure the supply of raw material to the industry. Similar views were expressed on Wednesday evening by Mikael Hornborg, chairman of the Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners on a YLE current affairs programme on Wednesday evening.

Hornborg echoed the industry's calls for improvements to Finland's highway infrastructure to ease road transport of timber.

Experts in the forest industry calculate that domestic felling in Finland could be increased by between 10 and 15 million cubic metres from the current level.

Anders Portin, head of the Finnish Forest Industries Federation proposes an increase in felling in state-owned forests - at least temporarily.

The price of Finnish wood is on the rise, in anticipation of a decision by Russia to sharply raise export duties on raw timber. In July, the duty will rise from the present four euros per cubic metre to ten, and much higher later. The Russian move is aimed at encouraging the development of Russia's own forest industry.

Sources: YLE