Month: November 2025
“The temporary ban on the export of unprocessed wood is a necessary step to take care of people during the winter and to preserve the operation of our enterprises,” said Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko. The head of the Government emphasized that the availability of timber is vital for life in rural communities, where firewood is a key resource for heating in winter.
Cabinet Resolution No. 1399 of October 31 provides for the licensing of exports — a zero quota until the end of the year. In particular, it effectively bans the export of fuelwood in the form of logs, billets, branches, brushwood, twigs, or in similar forms, as well as chips or sawdust.
The decision regarding fuelwood will come into force 21 days after Resolution No. 1399 becomes effective.
It is worth noting that the SFE “Forests of Ukraine” does not export firewood. Overall, according to statistics, exports account for less than 5% of the firewood market volume, and there is no shortage of resources — firewood for the population and the social sector is available. Nevertheless, the Government’s decision guarantees that in case of increased demand, all forestry resources of the country will be concentrated exclusively on meeting domestic needs.
Unlike firewood, the ban on the export of unprocessed timber (except pine) comes into effect the day after the publication of Resolution No. 1399.
It should be recalled that on November 1, the ten-year moratorium on the export of industrial timber (except pine), introduced by the Parliament in 2015, expires.
At the same time, as the Government notes, due to the war, part of Ukraine’s forests are temporarily occupied or damaged by hostilities, and the country has suffered enormous environmental losses. In addition, timber is needed to supply the army and to ensure the stable operation of Ukrainian processing enterprises that require additional raw materials to increase production.
Thus, despite the end of the moratorium, Ukrainian processors retain the exclusive right to access timber resources.