Vast Wildlife Trade in Russia: Unveiling the Magnitude of the Industry

Vast Wildlife Trade in Russia: Unveiling the Magnitude of the Industry

The Untapped Goldmine: Russia's Non-Wood Forest Products

employment, personal use, and unofficial volumes." According to industry estimates, the potential of this industry in Russia is staggering, with a whopping $4 billion in the industrial wild harvesting sector and $6.5 billion across all raw materials.

But collecting and processing these goods ain't no walk in the park. The wild berry market is as gray as a stormy Russian sky, and it's proving to be a challenge to keep track of these products. As Tatiana Kozlova, head of projects in the SRG Group of Companies, puts it, "It's a wild, wild west out there."

The sheer scale of this market is mind-boggling. According to official statistics from the federal forestry organization "Roslesinform," the collection of wild berries (nuts, berries, mushrooms, medicinal herbs, etc.) in Russia in 2023 is expected to surpass 25,000 tons. But the real numbers? They're hidden in the shadows.

The reason? Most of the wild berries are still collected informally, making it nearly impossible to get an accurate count. And the numbers between industry associations and official organizations don't match up like a puzzle with missing pieces.

*More Precious Than Oil?*

Wild harvests are more valuable than crude oil, and here's why: many of them are unique to Russia, meaning they can't be replaced by imports from other countries. Before the political changes, Russia's wild harvests were primarily exported to European and American countries. Today, products are sent abroad through third countries, making them more expensive for the final consumer. The volume of export deals has remained constant, bringing in 50-100 billion rubles per season.

Countries in southeast Asia and the Persian Gulf are increasingly importing these products, especially pine nuts and medicinal plants, which are mainly destined for China, and forest berries and edible mushrooms, which are in high demand in Europe.

*Breaking it Down: Pricing and Profit*

In 2022, the entire spectrum of wild harvests saw a significant price increase of 20% or more. The cost of mushrooms at market stalls ranged from 1,100 to 1,800 rubles per 5 liters, depending on the type, while berries like blueberries, lingonberries, and cranberries cost anywhere from 400-600 rubles per kilogram.

Prices fluctuate from year to year, with the lowest prices at the time of summer and fall harvests. Due to storage costs and changes in market conditions, prices can increase by two to three times by the start of the next harvest season.

Collecting and preparing wild harvests is costly, and the final price reflects these costs. labor expenses for collection and preparation, fuel costs, and yield. In the absence of a harvest, collectors must move to other natural areas, significantly increasing all logistical costs.

The second part of the cost is the added value of the processor, including processing costs (drying, cleaning, freezing, grinding, calibration), packaging, and portioning. This cost is more stable and depends on real inflation.

The third part of the cost is the trade markup of retail sellers, which is usually 30% or more of the processor's wholesale price. So, next time you pick up a box of those expensive wild berries at the store, remember – they're worth it!

*From 5 to 21 Million People: The Workforce Behind the Wild Harvests*

Russia's vast forests support not only its timber industry but also employ up to 5-21 million people. According to industry estimates, about 5-8 million earn an income from gathering wild plants, while an additional 16 million Russians gather them exclusively for personal use.

But unlike in the Wild West, there's no sheriff in this town keeping track of who's collecting what and where. The wild berry market remains as gray and mysterious as a Russian winter night, proving that there's still a long way to go before this industry truly comes out of the shadows.

1. Despite the challenges in tracking these products, the wild berry market in Russia is expected to surpass 25,000 tons in 2023, according to official statistics.
2. Wild harvests, such as berries, mushrooms, and medicinal herbs, are more valuable than crude oil due to their uniqueness and the difficulties in tracking their collection and export.
3. In 2022, the price of various wild harvests saw a significant increase, with mushrooms costing between 1,100 to 1,800 rubles per 5 liters and berries like blueberries, lingonberries, and cranberries costing 400-600 rubles per kilogram.
4. The workforce behind the wild harvests in Russia is vast, employing up to 5-21 million people, with about 5-8 million earning an income from collecting wild plants and an additional 16 million Russians gathering them exclusively for personal use.5.관與ckerring and preparing wild harvests is costly, and the final price reflects these costs, which include labor expenses, fuel costs, yield, processing costs, packaging, portioning, and the trade markup of retail sellers.

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