Illegal timber from Russia and Belarus is flooding Poland

The wood market in Poland is experiencing a significant surge in the supply of raw materials from Russia and Belarus, primarily entering through Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. This development has emerged despite the 2022 sanctions imposed on wood imports from Russia and Belarus. Notably, instead of a blockade, there has been a substantial increase in imports, reaching staggering percentages. Belarus, boasting vast forests covering 39% of its land area, holds a pivotal position as a wood producer in Europe. The sanctions levied on Belarusian and Russian timber imports into Poland were anticipated to be profoundly detrimental to the country's ...