International transportation of lumber, plywood, and paper via the ports of Novorossiysk, Rostov-on-Don, and Saint Petersburg

International transportation of lumber, boards, timber, wood, plywood, and paper

The export of lumber, wood products, and pulp and paper goods is a key segment of the Russian economy. BSF specializes in bulk and container transportation of lumber, boards, timber, wood, plywood, cardboard, and paper via the ports of Novorossiysk, Rostov-on-Don, and Saint Petersburg. We organize international shipments of softwood and hardwood to China, Turkey, Egypt, and other countries, ensuring full cargo integrity and adherence to delivery schedules.

This service is in demand by timber industry enterprises, manufacturers, and wholesale wood exporters seeking reliable sales channels abroad.

In addition to lumber exports, our company also provides services for the export of paper and pulp and paper products. Between 2023 and 2025, this type of product has shown 25% growth among goods exported to China.

Special features and requirements of Russian legislation for lumber transportation

The export of lumber from Russia is regulated by Government Decree No. 747 (extended until 2026), which requires phytosanitary control by Rosselkhoznadzor and labeling under HS codes 4403–4407. Untreated timber (HS code 4403) may only be exported through approved checkpoints, with a zero VAT rate and no duties, but with mandatory declaration of origin (FSC for the EU).

It is important to note that in the ports of Novorossiysk and Saint Petersburg, only treated lumber may be transported. Rostov-on-Don is suitable for river-sea transportation in combination with shipments via the Sea of Azov.

BSF ensures the transportation of this type of cargo in full compliance with all requirements of both the sending and receiving parties.

Types of Cargo Nomenclature

This cargo group includes the following:

Fuel wood in the form of logs, firewood, branches, faggots, chips, or similar formats; wood waste such as shavings, sawdust, and scrap, uncompressed or compressed into briquettes, pellets, or logs;
Wood charcoal;
Rough timber, with or without bark or sapwood, roughly squared or untreated;
Cooper's wood, split logs, piles, stakes, and pointed poles (but not longitudinally sawn); roughly dressed wood for tool handles, walking sticks, or umbrella handles; chips and similar materials;
Wood wool and wood flour;
Railway or tramway sleepers (cross-ties);
Sawn or split wood, planed or peeled, untreated or sanded, with or without end joints, over 6 mm thick;
Veneer sheets for plywood (including laminated wood) and other sawn/planed materials up to 6 mm thick, spliced or not;
Profiled timber (with grooves, ridges, tongues, shaped), including parquet flooring blocks, untreated or planed, with joints;
Particleboard (PB), OSB, and similar boards made of wood or lignocellulose, with or without resin impregnation;
Fiberboard (MDF, HDF) with binder additives;
Glued plywood, veneered panels, and laminated wood;
Compressed wood in blocks, panels, beams, or profiles;
Wooden frames for mirrors, paintings, and photographs;
Wooden packaging: crates, boxes, cages, drums, pallets, cable reels, rims;
Cooper's products: barrels, vats, tubs, and parts thereof, including staves;
Tool handles, broom handles, brush handles, wooden shoe lasts;
Joinery products: builder's joinery, flooring, shingles, and roof boarding.

Advantages of Shipping with BSF

Over 10 years of experience in international transportation of lumber and paper allows us to provide reliable service to our clients.

Our clients receive:

Cost savings — up to 20% reduction thanks to direct charters;
Comprehensive service — multimodal delivery from sawmill or pulp and paper mill to China, Turkey, or any other country upon request;
Careful transportation — for example, lumber is secured in accordance with RD 31.11.21.01-90, while paper is transported with moisture protection;
Short transit times — for example, Novorossiysk to Turkey in 5 days;
Manager support — full information on cargo movement status, route selection and audit free of charge.

Why customers choose BSF

Exclusive ocean freight rates

Thanks to our long-standing and successful track record in export shipments, we have earned the loyalty of key ocean carriers. This enables our clients to access unique freight rates for export and import flows, saving up to 20–30% compared to base tariffs.

Focus on complex cargo

We work with bulk cargo, full vessel lots, sawn timber, metal ingots, coils, big bags, oversized cargo and containerized shipments. Cargo accumulation and dispatch are handled smoothly, with full processing in Novorossiysk.

Unique stuffing and transshipment solutions

Our core know‑how lies in direct contracts with Novorossiysk ports covering re‑stuffing and transshipment of various cargo types. This ensures fast, safe and cost‑efficient handling for virtually any cargo.

Turnkey end‑to‑end service

From container delivery and removal to customs formalities and documentation, including interaction with FGBU “TsOKZ”, FGBU “VCR”, certification and permits – all processes are managed by a single provider. One contractor means fewer complications for your business.

Expertise in key industries

We have extensive experience working with the agro‑industrial sector, chemical industry, wood processing, mining and metallurgy. Grain logistics in vessel holds is one of our core specializations.

Extensive agents’ network

We maintain close working relationships with shipowners and operators and rely on a global network of agents. Our operations cover the ports of Novorossiysk, Saint Petersburg, Rostov‑on‑Don, Azov, Yeysk, Kavkaz, Astrakhan, Olya, Arkhangelsk and Aktau, with partner companies in Turkey, Jordan and the UAE.

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