world news - 06.05.2008
Timber Imports Not Slowed By New Russian Customs Rules
The cut in the number of border customs processing points by Russian officials has not yet slowed the import of raw timber.
In
northern parts of the country, the paperwork has to be taken hundreds
of kilometres for processing, but for the time being shipments
themselves still following previous routes.
In March, Russian
authorities cut the number of localities where customs documentation
can be handled by nearly half. The northernmost place on the border
where customs officers can pass exports from Russia is at Kostomuksa.
The
director Finland's eastern customs district, Tommi Kivilaakso, says
that for the most part Russian officials have accepted documents for
loads of timber crossing the border.
New discussions on customs
practice are underway, and the Finnish goal to for Russian authorities
to reinstate customs processing at the international border crossing
points at Kuusamo, Salla and Raja-Jooseppi. Timber is an important
import item at all three. Last year around 200 000 cubic metres of
timber were imported from Russia via these three border crossing points.
Timber imports from Russian Karelia are at a standstill at present due to road disrepair.
See also:
- — Russian export tax opens log markets for local
- — Brazilian pine sawlog prices were up despite lower demand in the 4Q
- — Forests Under Expanding Wildfire
- — Swedish officials protest against Russian timber protectionism
- — Tools, techniques to estimate timber volume
