Logistics of timber cargo: problems and prospects discussed at the meeting of the Expert Council

On November 22, the State Duma of the Russian Federation held a meeting of the Expert Advisory Council on the Forest Complex under the relevant committee. The Russian Timber Association was represented by its First Vice President Andrey Goncharov. The main topic of discussion was the logistics of forest cargo, which remains an acute problem for the industry.

The closure of European markets forced the Russian forestry and pulp and paper industries to reorient supplies to friendly countries, primarily to China. However, manufacturers faced serious logistical challenges: the termination of cooperation between the largest foreign carriers and Russian companies led to an increase in the cost of transportation services, and eastern routes were overloaded.

To overcome these difficulties, in the summer of 2023, the Government of the Russian Federation approved a program aimed at supporting forestry enterprises that deliver products through the ports of the Northwestern Federal District. The program compensates for the actual costs incurred for the delivery of products to end customers. The meeting participants noted that a promising solution could be to expand logistics subsidies to new markets - Africa and South America. This would redistribute cargo flows and reduce the load on the eastern polygon.

Russian Railways' initiative to create innovative rolling stock that will allow transporting various types of cargo, increasing the flexibility and efficiency of logistics, was also announced. Another topic of discussion was the requirement for mandatory installation of GLONASS satellite navigation equipment on all forestry equipment from January 1, 2025.

In conclusion, it was noted that in the near future, the State Duma plans to discuss amendments to the second reading of the bill on forest roads.