Japan’s timber imports from Russia have soared to record levels, defying global trade restrictions and highlighting Tokyo’s balancing act between resource security and geopolitical alignment. According to Japan’s Ministry of Finance, timber imports from Russia reached 71,700 cubic meters in April 2025—up 43% year-on-year—making Russia Japan’s largest timber supplier for the first time. Total national timber imports stood at 343,700 cubic meters for the month, up 73% from April 2024. Russia, Sweden, Canada, and Finland were Japan’s top four suppliers during the period. The surge underscores the ...