The prices for sawlogs have risen sharply compared to the fourth quarter of 2022. The demand for saw logs also remains high. This means that the sales situation for forest owners in the traditional main felling season is very good, according to forest owner associations.

Contrary to previous fears, the demand for all types of logs is very good. The prices for sawlogs have risen sharply compared to the fourth quarter of 2022. This means that the sales situation for forest owners in the traditional main felling season is very good, according to forest owner associations.
Price index spruce wood - producer price
At the beginning of the year, the prices for needle saw logs rose again by around 10 euros per cubic metre.

If you look at all the relevant ranges that are produced when using wood - i.e. saw logs, industrial wood and forest chips - the first quarter of 2023 can definitely be described as a high-price phase, because almost all ranges achieve above-average prices, it is said.

Sawlog prices have risen by around ten euros per cubic meter compared to the last quarter of 2022. Spruce A/C 2b+ usually costs between 110 and 120 euros per cubic metre. Individual buyers offer an additional bonus for the required lengths, according to forest owner associations. The discount for beetle wood was mostly 25 euros. Spruce long timber B was usually traded between 115 and 120 euros/m3. The prices for pine are also rising slightly and were mostly between 70 and 80 euros per sm3 for the 2b BC range.

According to most forest owner associations, the reason for the rising prices is the relatively limited supply of wood due to the weather. Due to the feared slump in sales for 2023, the sawmills only have low inventories and need replenishment. On the other hand, the sales situation in exports has apparently improved again recently and is supporting demand and prices.

Hardwood prices stable at a very high level
Price index beech logs

The demand for saw logs also remains high. Individual jigsaw log offers were already fixed in autumn until the end of the year and recently often extended until the end of the season at unchanged prices. On the saw log market, the demand for oak in particular remains brisk. Beech also continues to have very good sales opportunities. Price increases are difficult to implement due to the already high price level. Therefore, the hardwood prices were mostly updated at the very high level.

The supply of industrial and energy wood is well balanced with continued high demand. The market for energy wood (wood chips and long energy wood) has recently developed into an important marketing pillar, reports forest owner associations. The result: The development on the energy wood market is now also determining the prices for the other ranges. According to estimates by most forest owner associations, the price peak for industrial and energy wood has been reached for the time being. The high industrial wood prices could be extended in most regions until the end of March.

Wood chips and long energy wood (this corresponds to the pulpwood range) continue to be in high demand from heating plants. Depending on the region, prices in this segment are stable or rising slightly.

Firewood slightly weaker - slump in pulpwood
Price index firewood

Demand for quality firewood has recently weakened somewhat due to the very mild winter and many sales brought forward last year. At the start of the next heating season, however, forest owner associations are expecting a clear revival. Therefore, stocks should be built up when there is free capacity, say the forest owner associations.

However, there is also a problem on the wood market: demand and production in the paper industry have collapsed massively. As a result, significantly less pulpwood is used and therefore required. The volume purchase as well as the price is clearly falling in this range, it is reported. Regionally, the pulpwood contracts were completely suspended. The reason for this is the very high energy costs of the manufacturers. How the situation on the pulpwood market will develop is still uncertain. However, the range of pulpwood can still be marketed for thermal recycling, according to the forest owners.

Source: agrarheute.com