Round timber imports down 62.6%, exports down 0.9% in Latvia in 1H 2008

   Moscow. Aug 27, 2008. /Lesprom.com/. 365,500 cubic meters of round timber were imported in Latvia in the first six months of 2008, or 62.6% less than in the respective period last year, when 976,900 cubic meters of round timber were imported, The Baltic course reported. During the same time, Latvia exported 1.68 million cubic meters of round timber, which is 0.9% less than in the respective period of time last year, when round timber export was 1.7 million cubic meters, as informed Agriculture Ministry's Forests Department.

The total value of the imported round timber was LVL 19.76 million ($41.26 million), which is a 56.7% decrease on last year, when the value of the round timber imported in the first half-year totaled LVL 45.69 million (($95.40 million).

131,000 cubic meters of coniferous round timber and 234,500 cubic meters of deciduous round timber were imported in January-June this year. The largest volume of conifers was imported from Belarus – 52,600 cubic meters, Russia – 32,800 cubic meters and Finland – 14,800 cubic meters.

In the first six months of 2008, Latvia imported 90,900 cubic meters of deciduous timber from Russia, 88,400 cubic meters came from Lithuania and 34,100 cubic meters – from Belarus.

The value of exported round timber was LVL 71.27 million ($148.82 million), which is a 3.7% increase on the first six months of 2007, when the total worth of the exported round timber totaled LVL 68.73 million ($143.52 million).

833,600 cubic meters of coniferous round timber and 855,800 cubic meters of deciduous round timber were exported in the first six months of this year.

598,500 cubic meters of conifers were exported to Sweden, registering a 5.5% increase on the first six months of 2007. 108,100 cubic meters were exported to Finland, and 111,200 cubic meters to Estonia.

565,900 cubic meters of deciduous round timber exports went to Sweden, which, however, is 11.9% less than in the respective period of 2007. Finland received 122,100 cubic meters (or 6% more), Estonia – 154,000 cubic meters (an increase of 129.7%) of deciduous round timber from Latvia.