Tatarstan's anti-record: timber processing volumes are falling faster than in Russia.

      Major market players are losing revenue and downplaying production volumes

      Photo: Real Time

      The volume of industrial production in the woodworking industry of Tatarstan has increased to 85.5 billion rubles (+7%), according to data from Rosstat and the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Republic of Tatarstan. However, there has been a significant decline in the production of lumber in the republic — in 2025, 117 thousand cubic meters were produced, which is 37% less than the previous year. Thus, woodworking in the region has only grown in monetary terms. The volume of timber harvesting across Russia, according to Rosselkhoznadzor, amounted to 176 million cubic meters in 2025, which is 9.3% less than in 2024. The trend of declining lumber production has been observed for several years, and analysts predict its acceleration. On the decline in production and demand, the situation in the lumber market, rising prices, and the prospects for the woodworking industry in the region — in the industry review of "Real Time."

      Unstable segment

      In Tatarstan, in 2025, according to Rosstat and the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Republic of Tatarstan, 117 thousand cubic meters of lumber were produced, while in 2024 — 187 thousand. Last year, statistics recorded a decline of 15.7% compared to 2021 in the segment "wood processing and production of wood and cork products," while the average decline across Russia was 12.5%. At the same time, the production of related products — plywood, wooden window boxes, and fiberboard — decreased. However, the volume of industrial production in the woodworking industry showed positive dynamics:

      in 2025 — 85.5 billion rubles;

      in 2024 — 79.9 billion rubles;

      in 2023 — 69 billion rubles;

      in 2022 — 75.2 billion rubles.

      Maxim Platonov / realnoevremya.ru

      But the volumes are growing mainly due to the production of paper and paper products, while the growth in the economic activity "wood processing and production of wood and cork products, excluding furniture, production of straw products and materials for weaving" is insignificant and does not cover the decline experienced in 2023:

      in 2025, the volume of shipped products amounted to 29.9 billion rubles;

      in 2024 — 31 billion rubles;

      in 2023 — 25.5 billion rubles;

      in 2022 — 26.7 billion rubles.

      Unused timber harvesting

      The Ministry of Forestry of the Republic reported to "Real Time" that the calculated timber harvesting — the permissible annual volume of timber extraction — remained unchanged in Tatarstan from 2021 to 2023 at 2.23 million cubic meters, decreased to 2.18 million cubic meters in 2024-2025, but its actual use has been declining annually: in 2022 — by 10.5%, in 2023 — by 13.9%, in 2024 — by 3.3%, in 2025 — by 11.2%.

      provided by the Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Tatarstan

      The most pronounced decline was observed in logging for the needs of small and medium-sized businesses — by 35.5%.

      The industry is suffering losses

      provided by the Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Tatarstan

      Lumber production in Russia by the end of 2026 may decrease by 2-4%, analysts predict. By the end of 2025, the share of loss-making organizations in the woodworking industry reached 45%, the production volume of coniferous timber fell by 4.2%, and deciduous timber — by 4%.

      The industry publication "LespromInform" states: "The indicators for timber harvesting from 2021 to 2025 demonstrate a pronounced trend of reduction." Among the reasons are the following factors:

      a decline in demand and a contraction of sales markets, including export directions;

      a decrease in business margins and a lack of funds for development due to the high key rate of the Central Bank, inflation, complications in logistics, increased fiscal burden, wear and tear, and lack of equipment;

      uncertainty in regulatory policy, the introduction of new fees, and difficulties in long-term planning.

      In such conditions, only large technologically advanced enterprises will remain profitable, experts believe.

      Inna Serova / realnoevremya.ru

      "We hope at least not to go into the red"

      In Tatarstan, the largest wood processors are the resident of the Alabuga SEZ, LLC "Kastamonu Integrated Wood Industry," which, according to "SPARK-Interfax," ended 2025 with a revenue of 23.5 billion rubles, LLC "Tatarstan Timber Processing Plant" ("TDP") with 1.07 billion, Sabinsky Lespromkhoz with 294.8 million, the Zelenodolsk Plywood Plant with 15.7 million, and the Chelny branch of the Udmurt LLC "Uvadrev-Holding" (the total revenue of all enterprises in 2025 is 11.7 billion), as well as individual entrepreneur Biktimirova, operating in Naberezhnye Chelny under the brand "Chulmanles," information about the profitability of which is not available in open sources.

      LLC "Kastamonu Integrated Wood Industry" ended 2025 with a revenue of 23.5 billion rubles.

      screenshot from the website alabuga.ru

      From 2021 to 2024, the revenue of LLC "Kastamonu Integrated Wood Industry" decreased: in 2022 — by 13%, in 2023 — by 8%, in 2024 — by 1%. Only in 2025 was there a turnaround — turnover increased by 12%, while the company's net profit over 5 years fell by half — from 9.4 billion to 4.7 billion. In 2023, the company's official website published production capacity indicators in physical terms: MDF board production capacity — 1.05 million cubic meters, laminate — 45 million square meters per year. At the same time, in the same year, the company began producing new products — acrylic sheets for making furniture facades and decor, and in 2025 launched flat lamination, impregnation, and melamine pressing lines, but subsequently the enterprise did not disclose data on new production capacities or information on actual production volumes.

      The revenue of LLC "TDP" Alexander Kogogin fell by half from 2021 to 2025 — from 2.1 billion rubles to 1.07 billion. At the same time, the enterprise, which had a net profit of 296.7 million at the beginning of the "five-year plan," sharply went into the red in 2023, recorded a net loss of 137.7 million in 2024, and a loss of 6.5 million in 2025. Information on production volumes in physical terms could not be found in open access.

      The revenue of LLC "TDP" Alexander Kogogin fell by half from 2021 to 2025 — from 2.1 billion to 1.07 billion rubles

      screenshot from the website of LLC "TDP"

      "Uvadrev-Holding" after minor setbacks in 2022-2023 reached the revenue level of 2021 in 2025 — 11.7 billion rubles. However, since in 2024 the company's revenue reached 13.7 billion rubles, this achievement can only be considered with reservations. Sabinsky Lespromkhoz, after an increase in revenue in 2024, also lost ground in 2025, "dropping" it by 7.5%.

      "Real Time" sent requests to the leaders of "Kastamonu Integrated Wood Industry" and "TDP" asking to explain the reasons for the market decline and ways to overcome the negative trend, but received no responses. However, a representative of the company "Chulmanles," Elvira Galimyanova, was eager to express her opinion:

      — We sell lumber wholesale, working only with organizations and with significant volumes. And our sales volumes have not changed significantly compared to previous years. However, the overall situation has affected the financial condition of the company — we finished last year with losses, operated below zero because prices fell while expenses increased. This year, due to a slight increase in prices, we hope at least not to go into the red.

      "Prices are not changing, but purchases are worse"

      Prices for lumber in Kazan vary depending on the grade, type of wood, wood processing, and purchase volume. According to data from open sources, edged board depending on thickness (25-50 mm) and width (100-200 mm) ranges from 280 to 1,185 rubles per piece, planed bar (50×50 mm) — 165-360 rubles, bar 100×100×3000 mm — 1,895 rubles, euro lining "Standard" 12.5×88/96×2000 mm — about 1,445 rubles per package (10 pcs.).

      — Our prices have not changed since last year — nothing has become cheaper or more expensive, — said individual entrepreneur Mamedov to "Real Time" in the Kazan lumber market. — But purchases are much worse than