OREANDA-NEWS. On 26 January 2009 was announced, that Forestry Minister Petr Semashko told a news conference, that Belarusian forestry companies subordinate to the Forestry Ministry reduced exports 15% on the year in 2008 to USD 101 million; the target for 2009 is USD 103 million,.

In 2008, 8 million cubic meters of timber were sold. Exports amounted to 1.5 million cubic meters, sales on the domestic market via the exchange were at 1.6 million cubic meters, sales under individual contracts reached 4 million cubic meters, and 900,000 cubic meters of timber were supplied to woodworking shops of the ministry.

Standing wood sales were at 6 million cubic meters, of them 70% via the exchange. Average contract prices amounted to 36,000 rubles per cubic meter of needle wood, 51,000 rubles per cubic meter of hardwood and 9,000 rubles per cubic meter of softwood.

Commercial timber sales via the Belarusian Mercantile Exchange were at 2.3 million cubic meters. Plank timber prices averaged 144,000 rubles per cubic meter.