There is still no sign of a major correction in wood prices. Occasionally, forest owner associations report not only stable softwood prices in the first quarter of 2023, but even higher prices for spruce logs and especially for hardwood and energy wood. But the wood market cannot escape the economic and economic development either.

The crash in the price of wood has not materialized so far. Still, all is not well. The construction crisis, recession and politics hit the forest farmers and the timber industry. exit open.

--- Price Index for spruce wood
Most recently, prices for softwood lumber have leveled out on average for the leading range of spruce A/C, 2b+ between 90 and 100 euros per cubic meter. The discount for beetle wood was between 25 and 30 euros. Spruce long timber B was mainly traded between 105 and 110 euros/m3.

Despite the construction crisis and the economic crisis, wood prices have held up surprisingly well. The prices for hardwood, energy wood and firewood are even increasing. At least regionally. Nevertheless, the prospects for 2023 are not exactly exhilarating, because the timber market cannot escape the economic and economic development either.

And despite good price deals for the beginning of the year, things don't look particularly good. Both the construction crisis and the economic prospects leave little scope for stable or even higher wood prices in the long term. However, the market is supported by the continuing strong demand for energy wood and firewood. This should support hardwood prices in particular or even drive them up further. At the same time, the price of the softwood used in the construction sector is likely to suffer as a result of the economic trend.

This is also shown by the development of timber prices on the world market, which have recently plummeted and have now fallen to the level before Corona. This also means that the export of construction timber to the USA or China, which is (partly) responsible for the high prices, is no longer possible or must take place at significantly lower prices. Of course, this arrives with a certain time lag in the relatively strongly export-oriented German wood market.

A divided market – lumber and energy wood
--- Price index beech logs

Prices for beech logs have also risen sharply. Even D-wood is often sold for 80 euros/m3, C-goods from the 5th strength class reach the 100-euro mark, it is said. The price for beech firewood, for example, is higher than that for beech industrial wood.

There is still no sign of a major correction in wood prices. Most recently, prices for softwood lumber have leveled out on average for the leading range of spruce A/C, 2b+ between 90 and 100 euros per cubic meter. The discount for beetle wood was between 25 and 30 euros. Spruce long timber B was mainly traded between 105 and 110 euros/m3. The prices for pine were also stable and were mostly between 70 and 72 euros per sm3 for 2b BC.

Many sawmills were also able to absorb the lumber prices, which had come under pressure, with the still very high prices for sawdust and wood pellets. However, pellet prices have also fallen since the end of October, but have consolidated again since mid-December.

Many forest owners were surprised by the development on the hardwood log market. Oak prices have gone through the roof since the fourth quarter, forest owner associations report. Prices for beech logs have also risen sharply. Even D-wood is often sold for 80 euros/m3, C-goods from the 5th strength class reach the 100-euro mark, it is said.

The price for beech firewood, for example, is higher than that for beech industrial wood. “Industrial beech wood, which normally goes to the pulp industry, actually no longer exists. That's only possible in the firewood market," says the managing director of the Hessian Forest Owners' Association, Christian Raupach, to the Frankfurter Neue Presse. Demand and prices for colored hardwood have also increased recently.

High prices for firewood and pulpwood
--- Price Index for firewood
As a result of the energy crisis, the prices for firewood will probably remain high.

As a result of the energy crisis, the prices for firewood will probably remain high. The prices for pulpwood are also at a very high level and are mostly between 42.50 and 43.00 euros/cm. However, almost all prices have been agreed at much shorter notice than in previous years. The price for paperwood has risen by 13.50 euros since last year, said Paul Högenauer, managing director of the forest owners' association (WBV), to Merkur.

However, this price is no longer agreed for one year as usual, but only until the end of January. The reason is the uncertain situation in paper production. "The gas consumption is very high there." In the event of a shortage, paper production would probably be one of the first to be stopped. The sawmill industry is also still very unsettled because of the poor economic prospects, especially in the construction industry.

Well-founded forecasts for the sawmill and timber industry are difficult to make against the background of the unclear economic development in Germany and other countries at this point in time, said the German Sawmill and Timber Industry Association. "In view of the current economic situation and an expected recession, it is the task of politicians to create strengthening instruments and reliable framework conditions," says Managing Director Julia Möbus.

Source: agrarheute.com