Russian tariffs affect Aussie forests
The main pulp/paper producing region in Europe is Scandinavia, and up to a third of the raw wood used to make paper there has come from Russia. Since 2006, Russia has increased the export tax on its raw log exports to €15 per cubic meter from €2.50. But on January 1st, this tax is set to rise to €50, equal to about $300 per ton of pulp or paper produced. Such an increase will further add to the US logging industry’s cost advantage (and possibly Australia’s).