Rosleshoz offers five-fold increase of round timber export duty

The RF Government approved the schedule of increasing export duties for round timber, according to which from January 1, 2009 each cubic meter of exported unprocessed timber will cost the exporters up to EUR50, IA REGNUM reports according to FIS. According to Rosleskhoz specialists, in 2009 the RF budget could get additional RUR18.2 billion only from the introduction of restrictive duties for round timber export. Currently exporters pay USD1.9 in Russia while they pay USD51 in Finland. According to Rosleshoz, exports of unprocessed timber will total 52 million cu. m in 2007.