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Developments of Sino-Russo Timber Trade in the Amur River Basin, with Special Reference to the Transition Period During 1995–2005

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Part of the book series: International Perspectives in Geography ((IPG,volume 5))

Abstract

This research focuses on Sino-Russo timber transportation routes, timber trade flows, and related developments during 1995–2005, to identify important factors and trends leading to changes in timber trade policy. Timber trade statistics from individual customs gateways on the Chinese side of the Amur River Basin are analyzed. These statistics outline recent changes in timber trade policies of both countries. Impacts of the latest policy changes on the future of Sino-Russo timber trade flows are discussed. The findings show that the basin was a core area of Sino-Russo timber trade during the study period. Softwood and hardwood logs were the main import items, with more than 90 % of total timber imports, although this share has been dropping gradually. Analysis of timber trade statistics and recent infrastructure developments along certain transportation routes also reveals increasing import volumes at several small to medium-sized gateways, which have seen substantial improvements in trade-related infrastructure. A key trade policy triggering changes in the Sino-Russo timber trade was the Russian log export tax increase in 2007, which increased sawn wood imports from Russia along with a diversification of trade flows.

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Acknowledgement

This research owes much to the thoughtful and helpful support of Professor Lu Wenming, Division of International Cooperation, Chinese Academy of Forestry, and Professor Hiroaki Kakizawa, Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University. The author would also like to thank the late Professor Alexander Sheingauz and Dr. Natalia Antonova, Economic Research Institute, Russian Academy of Science, and Ms. Hu Xīnzhī, Division of Wood Industry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, for their help in collecting and clarifying information. This study was supported in part by the Amur-Ohkotsk Project of the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature and the “China Wood Market” research project of the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Japan.

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Correspondence to Masanobu Yamane .

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Yamane, M. (2015). Developments of Sino-Russo Timber Trade in the Amur River Basin, with Special Reference to the Transition Period During 1995–2005. In: Haruyama, S., Shiraiwa, T. (eds) Environmental Change and the Social Response in the Amur River Basin. International Perspectives in Geography, vol 5. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-55245-1_9

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