Despite international sanctions, Russian timber continues to enter European markets via China, according to an investigation by Germany's SWR. Russian birch forests, among the largest globally, supply timber crucial to the construction and furniture industries, generating billions in revenue. The main beneficiary is oligarch Alexey Mordashov, owner of Russia's largest forestry company, Sveza, and a close ally of Vladimir Putin.
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Sanctions imposed after Russia's invasion of Ukraine were intended to prevent timber exports to the EU. However, SWR's findings reveal that timber is relabelled in China and then imported into Europe, including Poland, without legal obstruction. Russian wood is also openly displayed at international trade fairs, raising concerns over enforcement.
Environmental watchdog Earthsight has repeatedly documented mislabelled Russian plywood in European warehouses. Tara Ganesh, head of timber research at Earthsight, estimates that approximately €1 billion of sanctioned timber enters the EU each year.
Mordashov has faced personal sanctions since 2021, imposed by Ukraine, the EU, the UK, and the United States. Yet loopholes in international trade allow Russian timber to reach European manufacturers, sustaining supply chains in the furniture and construction sectors while undermining sanctions efforts.
The report highlights ongoing challenges for regulators seeking to enforce sanctions and prevent illicit timber trade, emphasising the economic and environmental stakes associated with the flow of Russian wood into European markets.
Source: www.english.nv.ua
