Ukraine moved sales of unprocessed timber to licensed commodity exchanges in July 2021. Five years later, the model has created a more open market with equal auction access and competitive pricing.
Scale of the market
From 2021 to 2026, more than 17 million cubic metres of timber were sold through the Ukrainian Energy Exchange. Contracts approached 50 billion hryvnias including value added tax, while more than 13,300 auctions were held.
Broader participation
More than 4,900 accredited buyers and over 150 sellers from across Ukraine joined trading. The exchange developed clearing, market analytics, post-trade support and electronic documents to make transactions more predictable.
What comes next
The results show how licensed digital trading can reduce information asymmetry and form market prices. Continued improvement of settlement, monitoring and data services will be important for processors that need reliable raw-material supply and for forestry operators seeking transparent demand.
