6 Jun 2025
,Russia
Russia's plywood exports to China have surged dramatically, recording a notable growth of over 45% within the past year, according to data released by China Customs. For the 12 months leading up to December 2024, China imported more than 347,400 cubic meters of Russian plywood, a significant leap from the previous year's 249,000 cubic meters. This increase has resulted in Russian plywood comprising 88% of China's total plywood imports, up from 81.6% the preceding year.
As the world's leading producer of plywood, China has established itself as a preeminent player in the global market, producing more than 100 million cubic meters annually. This astonishing figure equates to over 70% of world production, with the bulk of this output destined for international markets.
The substantial influx of Russian plywood into China has sparked discourse among environmental groups, who are apprehensive about China's role as a conduit for timber originating from Russia and Belarus. There is growing speculation that Russian birch plywood is entering the European market through China and other countries situated in the Eurasian region.
The main markets for Chinese plywood exports include numerous European nations as well as the United States, raising further questions regarding the end destinations of these products originating from Russian timber.
Environmental organizations are increasingly vocal about the implications of China's intermediary role in the timber trade. With China acting as a key junction for timber funneling out of Russia and Belarus, suspicions have mounted around the possibility of environmental oversights. Forms of regulatory evasion might allow Russian birch plywood to find its way into European markets under the facade of Chinese origin.
Given China's standing as the leading producer and exporter of plywood, the concerns extend to the broader implications of such trade practices on global forestry conservation efforts. The lack of transparency and traceability within these trade routes compounds suspicions that the ecological footprint of such transactions might be significant. Assessing the exact impact remains complex, yet the surge in these trade statistics beckons an appeal for increased oversight.
This alleged porousness in the supply chain could undermine efforts by European stakeholders to maintain sustainable sourcing certifications. As these international supply chains intertwine, there is a pressing need for governments and industries involved to uphold stringent due diligence procedures in the sourcing and certification of timber products.
The environmental implication of such trade practices continues to fuel discussion on policy platforms, with stakeholders advocating for a more stringent regulatory framework that addresses the emerging concerns of timber trade inefficiencies within these key player states.
