Logging in Russia decreased by 3.1% in the first nine months of 2026: dynamics by region

In January–September 2026, 104.8 million m3 of wood was harvested in Russia, which is 3.1% less than in the same period last year. According to the Federal Forestry Agency, growth has persisted only in the North-Western Federal District. The most significant decrease was recorded in the Urals and the Far East. The regional dynamics reflect the heterogeneous situation in the Russian timber industry: the conditions for harvesting, processing and selling products vary significantly by territory.

    Logging in Russia in January–September 2026

104.8 million m3

    A decrease of 3.1% in annual terms. The only federal district with growth is the North-West.

How much wood was harvested in the federal districts

    The North-Western Federal District became the leader in terms of logging and the only district where the figure increased in annual terms.

    The largest volume of harvesting occurred in the North-West — 34.3 million m3. Siberia took the second place with an indicator of 29.7 million m3. At the same time, it was the Ural and Far Eastern districts that experienced the most pronounced reductions: by 17% and 12.8%, respectively.

Logging in Russia: dynamics of recent years

    Data from recent years show a decrease in the annual volume of logging after relatively high rates in 2022-2024.

    According to the data provided, in 2025, the volume of harvesting decreased by 10%, to 175 million m3. The figure for the first nine months of 2026 — 104.8 million m3 — was also lower than last year's level for the same period.

    It is directly incorrect to compare the nine-month result with the full annual volume: to assess the results of 2026, data for the entire calendar year is needed.

Why regions show different dynamics

    According to the Bank of Russia's Regional Economy Survey, conditions for the production and sale of timber products vary markedly between federal districts.

Northwest: production growth and export opportunities

    In July–August 2026, the production of woodworking products increased relative to the second quarter. Among the factors noted in the review are increased external demand, primarily from one of the Asian countries, the weakening of the ruble and lower logistics costs, which increased the profitability of lumber exports. Companies from the Arkhangelsk and Vologda regions reported an increase in exports.

Ural: declining output and weak external demand

    In the last two months described in the review, the industry's output has been declining both year-on-year and quarter-on-quarter. Manufacturers of slab products in Bashkortostan, as well as plywood and veneer in the Perm Region, reported a continued reduction in external demand. At the same time, domestic demand for packaging materials generally remained stable, although selling prices for paper and cardboard packaging remained below long-term averages.

Siberia: pressure on furniture production

    The decline in furniture production continued in the regions of the Siberian Federal District. In June–August 2026, the decline accelerated to 17% year-on-year after a 12% decline in the previous three months.

    Thus, the dynamics of logging is not explained by one factor common to the whole country. Regional results are influenced by sales conditions, the state of woodworking, export profitability and demand for finished products.

What does this mean for the participants of the forest market

    For loggers and processors, the Nationwide decrease of 3.1% is a reason to carefully assess the situation in a particular region and market segment. Growth in the Northwest is matched by significant declines in the Urals and the Far East, so a unified procurement and sales strategy may not take into account local conditions.

    When planning supplies, it is important to monitor the availability of roundwood, buyers' requirements for breed and grade, transportation costs, and demand from processors. You can find commercial offers in the ForestResource sections: buy roundwood and sell roundwood.

    For enterprises focused on finished products, it is also relevant to search for counterparties in the lumber market: offers for the purchase of lumber and offers for the sale of lumber.

Forecast: the importance of regional differences will remain

    The nine-month data does not allow us to unambiguously predict the total volume of logging in Russia for 2026. To assess further dynamics, it is important to monitor the results of the fourth quarter, demand for woodworking products and changes in export conditions.

The main conclusion

    In January–September 2026, 104.8 million m3 of wood was harvested in Russia, which is 3.1% less than last year's figure. The North-West remains the largest district in terms of volume and the only one with positive dynamics, while the strongest decline was noted in the Urals and the Far East. Regional conditions of harvesting, processing and marketing are of key importance for market participants.

Tags: #Logging #Forestry #LPC #Russian Market #Wood #Roundwood #Lumber #Woodworking #Export of wood #ForestResource

Edited Moderator (Oct. 18, 2026 18:44:54)