Belarus timber exports hit record high
Forestry Minister Alexander Kulik told Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko at a meeting on 24 August that Belarusian timber exports have reached an all-time high, Belarusian news agency has learned.
Alexander Kulik said that in June 2022 the Forestry Ministry reorganised its work during the sanctions. Before the sanctions, 60 thousand cubic metres of timber were exported per month. When the sanctions were imposed in July 2022, exports dropped slightly. But now timber exports have rebounded to a record high of 77,000 cubic metres, the minister said.
Before the sanctions, EU countries were the main market for Belarusian timber, accounting for 56 per cent of the country's timber exports. After the cessation of timber exports to the EU, the main consumers were China (52 per cent, compared to 37 per cent previously), Azerbaijan (24 per cent, compared to 4 per cent previously) and Russia (6 per cent).
"We have taken over this niche market and, most importantly, exports have increased in volume and value. In a seven-month period, we sold $90.4 million worth of products." Aleksandr Kulik said.
