Export earnings from the Russian lumber industry grew 21.4% year on year in 2005 to USD 8.5 billion, a deputy industry and energy minister said on Monday. In 2005 investment in the lumber industry was 39.6 billion roubles (USD 1.5 billion), which is 8 billion roubles (USD 295.8 million) more than in 2004. The loans from foreign banks made up 20-25% of the industry total. Russia annually exported 41.8 million m3 of lumber, or 35.4% of the world timber market. (Source: IHB)