On March 15, 2025, the Polish-Ukrainian border began blocking the export of Ukrainian timber. This unexpected decision by the Polish customs authorities has caused considerable concern among Ukrainian forestry and woodworking companies. Without any official explanation or analysis, Polish customs officials refuse to allow products to cross the border, which jeopardizes the economic stability of the industry.
The main reason for concern is the lack of justification from the Polish authorities. According to Pavlo Vasyliev, head of the Association of Woodworking Enterprises of Ukraine, the blockade is groundless and poses risks not only to individual companies but also to the country's economy as a whole. Ukraine is one of the leading exporters of wood in Europe, and blocking its exports can significantly affect foreign exchange earnings and the economic position in the industry.
As a result of such actions, there may be an excessive supply of timber, which will inevitably lead to lower prices. This will negatively affect the industry's employees, who may face the risk of losing their jobs. In addition, other European markets may also be concerned about the irrational decisions of the Polish side.
Uniplyt LLC, ODEK Ukraine LLC, and Woodland Ukraine LLC have already faced major problems with product transportation. They were forced to stop several shipments that were already waiting to be shipped, which means that their export plans may be delayed indefinitely.
Vasyliev emphasizes that without proper regulation of this issue at the intergovernmental level, it can create significant tension in bilateral relations between Ukraine and Poland. The Ukrainian side plans to appeal to international institutions to find a fair solution if the situation is not resolved in the near future. The business community expects an appropriate response from the authorities of both countries to resolve this issue as soon as possible and remove unreasonable restrictions.
