Export of Tomsk timber halved by 2025 due to GLONASS restrictions
Tomsk, Feb 25 - RIA Tomsk. The export of products from Tomsk's forestry sector decrease by half in the early months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, Senator Victor Kress from Tomsk region reported in his Telegram channel on Tuesday.
The shift can be attributed to the introduction of a new logging transportation system, requiring trucking vehicles to be equipped with GLONASS. Since Jan 1, 2025, Russian loggers have been obligated to outfit their vehicles with GLONASS and transfer data on vehicle movement to the Federal State Information System of the Forestry Complex. Failure to comply with this rule may result in a fine of up to 400,000 rubles.
According to Kress, the issue lies in the fact that loading foreign vehicles with GLONASS is difficult. In the past, goods and materials were transported from foreign countries to Tomsk, while wood was shipped back on the same vehicles. Now, trucks are leaving empty because foreign vehicles cannot be equipped with GLONASS.
Moreover, the export of rapeseed oil from Tomsk region decreased by half in 2024. Kress explained that loggers are facing frequent failures in the Federal State Information System of the Forestry Complex. The Trading and Industrial Chamber, after gathering complaints, has proposed a transition period until July 1, 2025, to resolve problems. In addition, they suggest increasing the capacity and number of checkpoints at the border with Kazakhstan.
In a different development, the forestry sector's export showed a increase of 5.7% by the end of 2024 compared to the previous year. However, the specific reason for the decrease in the export of rapeseed oil in 2024 is yet to be determined by consulting recent reports from the Russian Ministry of Agriculture or trade organizations involved in the rapeseed oil export market.
The challenges in loading foreign vehicles with GLONASS are causing issues in the transportation of wood from Tomsk, leading to empty trucks and contributing to a decrease in exports from the forestry industry. According to the Trading and Industrial Chamber, the export of rapeseed oil from Tomsk region also decreased in 2024, with the issues in the Federal State Information System of the Forestry Complex being a significant factor.
