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щим, расходным материалам для ЛПК, содействие   the European markets towards those in Asia, Middle
                                        продвижению продукции ЛПК на новые рынки,     Eastern and Latin America, that isn’t an unsolvable
                                        в том числе создание отечественной системы лес-  problem. The Russian-made pulp and paper prod-
                                        ной сертификации, развитие Северного морско-  ucts are known for their high quality and are still in
                                        го пути с прицелом на доставку лесных грузов в   high demand globally. At the same time, as we turn
                                        страны Азиатско-Тихоокеанского региона.       our eyes to the East, the China-bound cargo traffic
                                                                                      is peaking in intensity, threatening a logistical col-
                                           – Alexander Yurievich, how would you define   lapse. Logistics seems to be the biggest issue in the
                                        the state of things in timber sector and pulp and   situation that the industry is faced by. For many pulp
                                        paper industry?                               and paper mills, especially those in the European part
                                           – For the Arkhangelsk Oblast, the timber sector   of Russia, the changes in their supply schemes have
                                        is, indeed, of crucial importance. Together with de-  led to longer delivery time and higher cost of prod-
                                        fense complex, it is the pillar of the area’s well-being.   uct transportation from mill to customer. In March
                                        I must say that the year 2021 proved successful for the   2022, these factors caused an avalanche-like increase
                                        Russian forest sector, its performance had increased   in sea freight rates and cost of container multimodal
                                        in nearly all aspects. Timber sector’s overall turnover   transport. The situation is aggravated further by the
                                        had increased by 33% last year to RUB 2.4 trillion.   EU sanctions against the Russian shipowners and the
                                        Notably, the period from January to April 2022 saw a   European container carriers’ refusal to handle cargo
                                        further increase of 128.5%. The turnover of the pulp   flows from Russia. Compared to Q4 2021, the cost of
                                        and paper industry has increased over this period by   containerized cargo transportation from Arkhangelsk
                                        132.5%. It should be noted that the pulp and paper in-  to China increased more than two-fold. Transporta-
                                        dustry is undoubtedly the driver of the development   tion to North Africa is now 1.5 times more expensive.
                                        of the Russian timber industry. Pulp and paper indus-
                                        try remains key driver of the Russian timber sector.   – Where do the pulp and paper mills source con-
                                        The share of paper and paper-based products in tim-  sumables?
                                        ber sector’s total output has increased in 2022 from   – Consumables are another major problem. The
                                        47.5% to 48.8% – by nearly one half! Arkhangelsk   question where to source them arose back in March,
                                        Oblast is fortunate – and it owes its fortune to the for-  when  the  European  suppliers  terminated  contracts
                                        ward-looking policy of grand designers of the USSR –
                                        to have two pulp and paper mills. Both are operating
           SOZVEZDYE #40                successfully at same fast face against all odds!  «Драйвером развития
                                                                                        лесопромышленного комплекса
                                           – Now that sanctions pressure is on the increase,
            тренды                      how would you describe the performance of the   России, без сомнения, является
            trends                      Russian pulp and paper industry?                целлюлозно-бумажная
                                           – Its export-bound shipments are declining. There
                                        has been a significant drop in demand in the domes-  промышленность»
                                        tic market, primarily for corrugated packaging, al-  “Pulp and paper industry
                                        though production levels experience no constraints   remains key driver of the Russian
                                        other than warehouses capacity. Unfortunately, we   timber sector”
           52                           can’t expect the corrugated packaging market to
                                        pick up anytime soon. As to having to reorient from
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