russian timber imports to the United States are ongoing. According to the international trade database Panjiva, in 2024 alone, over 450,000 cubic meters of russian birch plywood were imported into the U.S., generating over $2.1 billion for russia, calculated at standard retail prices. This trade directly benefits companies connected to putin’s oligarchs, many of whom support or profit from russia’s military actions.
At the same time, sanctions in the European Union have numerous loopholes. For example, they do not apply to products manufactured in third countries using russian timber. A recent investigation by Earthsight, an environmental organization, shows that russian birch plywood with a retail value of over €1.2 billion has entered every EU member state since EU sanctions took effect in July 2022. The largest importers were Poland, Italy, Germany, Estonia, and Spain.
Together with other non-governmental organizations, we have decided to appeal to the U.S. government to impose a full embargo on the import of russian timber and its products, and to the European Union to strengthen its sanctions.
