Analysis of current situation in maritime market for forestry products

A.А. Tambi, O.A. Polyanskaya, V.V. Bespalova, A.E. Mikhailova, V.A. Lipsky

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Abstract. The destinations of products exports manufactured in the Russian Federation have undergone significant changes over the past four years. The authors have calculated the share of production for the main types of products from the Russian timber industry that are exported. An analysis of maritime export volumes has been carried out. The directions for timber industry product deliveries have been determined. The directions for shipping the main export-oriented products, lumber and plywood, have been identified. The main ports serving timber cargoes have been identified and their loading indicated. Information on support measures for timber industry producers has been systematized. The maximum volumes of timber industry products that can be shipped by sea, while maintaining the current geopolitical situation have been determined. In general, the main factors hindering the growth of export shipments and negatively affecting the development of maritime exports have been identified.
Research objective. The purpose of this study is to analyze the situation in the field of maritime shipping of timber products from Russia during the period of sanctions, with the exception of container transportation.
Research methods. The research was conducted using a combination of abstract-logical and analytical methods, as well as questionnaires.
Research results. The main shipping routes for timber and plywood have been identified. A list of Russia’s main ports handling timber cargoes has been compiled. The cargo turnover parameters for these ports have been established. Long-term subsidisation of maritime transport may lead to a distortion in the assessment of the profitability of forest industry products.
Conclusion. The analysis shows that in the first quarter of 2024, the growth of LPP product shipments was observed only in the Arctic zone. Sea transportation, excluding container shipments, accounts for only about 20% of the total volume of export shipments, and since 2018, there has been a decrease in the cargo turnover of LPP products. There is a risk that the development of subsidies for sea transportation of forest products may have the opposite effect, where the profitability of products will be determined not by the efficiency of using raw materials at enterprises, but by the size of the subsidies.

Keywords: timber industry exports, maritime transport, export destinations for sawn timber and plywood, market capacity for maritime transport of timber industry products, measures of state support for maritime transport

For citation. Tambi A.А., Polyanskaya O.A., Bespalova V.V., Mikhailova A.E., Lipsky V.A. Analysis of current situation in maritime market for forestry products. News of the Kabardino-Balkarian Scientific Center of RAS. 2026. Vol. 28. No. 2. Pp. 104–118. DOI: 10.35330/1991-6639-2026-28-2-104-118

©   Tambi A.А., Polyanskaya O.A., Bespalova V.V., Mikhailova A.E., Lipsky V.A., 2026

References

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Information about the authors

Alexander A. Tambi, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor, Professor of the Department of Economics, Accounting, and Analysis of Economic Activity, S.M. Kirov Saint Petersburg State Forestry University;
5, Liter U, Institutsky Lane, Saint Petersburg, 194021, Russia;
a_tambi@mail.ru, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4099-3409
Olga A. Polyanskaya, Candidate of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Economics, Accounting, and Analysis of Economic Activity, S.M. Kirov Saint Petersburg State Forestry University;
5, Liter U, Institutsky Lane, Saint Petersburg, 194021, Russia;
polyanskaya_78@mail.ru, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5377-1891
Veronika V. Bespalova, Candidate of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor, Associate Professor of the Department of Economics, Accounting, and Analysis of Economic Activity, S.M. Kirov Saint Petersburg State Forestry University;
5, Liter U, Institutsky Lane, Saint Petersburg, 194021, Russia;
weronika2002@yandex.ru, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6139-0899
Anna E. Mikhailova, Candidate of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor, Associate Professor of the Department of Economics, Accounting, and Analysis of Economic Activity, S.M. Kirov Saint Petersburg State Forestry University;
5, Liter U, Institutsky Lane, Saint Petersburg, 194021, Russia;
79119173494@yandex.ru, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0280-7409
Vitaly A. Lipsky, General Director of National Forest Agency for Development and Investment LLC;
4B, Finland Avenue, Business Center “Petrovsky Fort”, Saint-Petersburg, 194044, Russia
info@nlari.com, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7479-4374

Funding

The article was prepared as part of the research project of the Institute of Forest Business and Innovation at St. Petersburg State Forestry University named after S.M. Kirov. The research topic is “Analysis of the Forest Complex Segments in the Russian Federation”.