The Russian forestry industry in new geopolitical conditions: sales markets and ways to effective development

Abstract

This article examines the role of Russia’s forest policy in the global economy, focusing on strengthening it in the context of a globalized world order. It examines the transformation of Russia’s forest industry complex (hereinafter referred to as the forest industry complex) in the context of new geopolitical realities caused by sanctions pressure and the reorientation of global supply chains. Key geopolitical challenges (the EU embargo, loss of access to traditional markets, China’s price dictatorship, corruption, and labor shortages) are discussed, as well as opportunities for forest industry development: a reorientation toward Asian countries, BRICS+, the development of transport corridors, and advanced wood processing. Investment dynamics, regional disparities (using the Irkutsk and Arkhangelsk regions and Karelia as examples), and government support measures for the industry in the current context are analyzed. The impact of Russian forest policy on the global timber market is examined, including the risks of Russia becoming a raw materials appendage of Asian economies. This work is intended for forestry industry specialists, economists, politicians, and researchers interested in the forestry industry’s adaptation to geopolitical changes, sustainable development, and countering systemic crises in the industry.