The ЕВА joined discussions on reforming the timber market

14/ 08/ 2025

Representatives of the European Business Association took part in a roundtable discussion titled Reforming the Timber Market: Mechanism for Deepening Wood Processing and Creating Added Value for Ukraines Economy, held within the framework of the working group on state policy in the field of woodworking, furniture industry, and the timber market under the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Economic Development. The event focused on discussing key issues related to the reform of Ukraine’s timber market. A major concern for businesses is the need to revise the Draft Law of Ukraine on the Timber Market (revised) (Reg. No. 13227 dated 01.05.2025). During the roundtable, Member of Parliament Bohdan Kytsak emphasised the necessity to further improve the updated draft law “On the Timber Market”, following on-site meetings with representatives of both businesses and government bodies, including local authorities. Experts from the EBA welcomed this approach, as the business community believes that a sectoral law regulating the functioning of the timber market must be fully aligned with domestic wood-processing enterprises and reflect market realities and principles of competitiveness. According to the EBA’s member companies, the current version of the draft law creates unequal conditions for market participants and poses risks to the proper functioning of the wood-processing sector. The EBA’s experts highlight the following provisions that require revision: The division of wood processors into “small” and others, introducing restrictions on participation in certain stages of exchange trading. Linking the participation of small wood processors in auctions to the region where their production facilities are located. Granting excessive powers to the authorised body to set rules for auction participation, determine shares, and allocate timber volumes between small and other processors, etc. Providing preferential conditions for small wood-processing enterprises. The business community draws particular attention to the importance of adopting the key industry draft law “On the Timber Market” in a version acceptable to both businesses and government representatives, considering the crucial role of the law in the functioning of the timber market. Additionally, the necessity of extending the moratorium on roundwood exports, which expires this autumn, is underlined, a key factor given the industrys focus on exporting finished wood products. As the domestic wood-processing sector ranks among the six largest contributors to the state budget of Ukraine, it is essential that the draft law be adopted without delay.

Representatives of the European Business Association took part in a roundtable discussion titled “Reforming the Timber Market: Mechanism for Deepening Wood Processing and Creating Added Value for Ukraine’s Economy”, held within the framework of the working group on state policy in the field of woodworking, furniture industry, and the timber market under the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Economic Development.

The event focused on discussing key issues related to the reform of Ukraine’s timber market. A major concern for businesses is the need to revise the Draft Law of Ukraine on the Timber Market (revised) (Reg. No. 13227 dated 01.05.2025).

During the roundtable, Member of Parliament Bohdan Kytsak emphasised the necessity to further improve the updated draft law “On the Timber Market”, following on-site meetings with representatives of both businesses and government bodies, including local authorities.

Experts from the EBA welcomed this approach, as the business community believes that a sectoral law regulating the functioning of the timber market must be fully aligned with domestic wood-processing enterprises and reflect market realities and principles of competitiveness.

According to the EBA’s member companies, the current version of the draft law creates unequal conditions for market participants and poses risks to the proper functioning of the wood-processing sector.

The EBA’s experts highlight the following provisions that require revision:

The division of wood processors into “small” and others, introducing restrictions on participation in certain stages of exchange trading.
Linking the participation of small wood processors in auctions to the region where their production facilities are located.
Granting excessive powers to the authorised body to set rules for auction participation, determine shares, and allocate timber volumes between small and other processors, etc.
Providing preferential conditions for small wood-processing enterprises.

The business community draws particular attention to the importance of adopting the key industry draft law “On the Timber Market” in a version acceptable to both businesses and government representatives, considering the crucial role of the law in the functioning of the timber market. Additionally, the necessity of extending the moratorium on roundwood exports, which expires this autumn, is underlined, a key factor given the industry’s focus on exporting finished wood products.

As the domestic wood-processing sector ranks among the six largest contributors to the state budget of Ukraine, it is essential that the draft law be adopted without delay.