European timber industry increasingly deciding to suspend or restrict trade with Russia

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In addition to corporations such as Apple, BMW, BP, Ford, Shell and VW, companies in the European timber industry are increasingly deciding to suspend or restrict trade with Russia or to stop production in Russian plants. Ikea and Stora Enso have decided to stop all activities with and in Russia. 

Stora Enso operates three corrugated packaging plants and two sawmills in Russia, which are now idle. The company will also stop all exports and imports to and from Russia. Hasslacher Norica Timber is heavily involved in Russia and will continue to operate there until further notice. Koelnmesse also excludes Russian exhibitors from trade fairsMeanwhile, Mayr-Melnhof Karton had to close its plant in the Ukraine.

Switching from Russian coal to European energy wood?

The President of the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK), Peter Adrian, expects the Ukraine war to have serious effects on German-Russian trade relations and energy supply, with Germany accounting for 55% for gas, 35% for oil and 50% of coal is enormously dependent on Russia. In Austria, there are similar concerns. The Austrian Forest Association, the Biomass Association and proPellets Austria recently appealed to the federal government with a 10-point program to make full use of the potential of wood energy as quickly as possible. The usage residues due to increased forest care measures are currently over 250 million m³. That is enough wood for a massive timber construction program including sufficient energy to meet the gas requirements for space heating,

Will Russia's machines soon come from China?

The DIHK President also expects the conflict to have an impact on trade relations between Germany and China. "Russia will try to use its relationship with China to compensate for what will be lost from America and Europe from now on - such as technological supplies from the industrial and mechanical engineering sectors." Where machines are normally exhibited, Deutsche Messe has set up its Hall 27 in Hanover as accommodation for Ukrainian refugees.

German furniture industry sees important export market at risk

The Association of the German Furniture Industry is expecting a drastic decline in furniture exports to Russia. In 2021, sales with these amounted to €87.5 million. Before the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict in 2014, German furniture exports to Russia still amounted to more than €200 million. After all, furniture from Russia plays just as little a role on the German market as semi-finished products.

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