German sawmills are currently experiencing a shortage of wood, prompting some companies to reduce working hours, including short-time work in places like Kronach, Franconia. Sawmill owners cite a lack of round timber despite reaching out to local forest owners.
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However, forest owners and foresters strongly dispute the notion of a true shortage. Many argue on social media that sufficient timber exists but is not being purchased at fair market prices. They point to past practices where sawmills bought beetle-infested wood cheaply during 2020–2022, driving down prices and undercutting forest owners' profits. Today, forest owners demand higher payments for timber, reflecting current inflation and market values. Some cite €200 per cubic meter of spruce roundwood as a fair price, contrasting sharply with prior depressed rates.
The controversy raises a critical question: Is the reported wood shortage genuine, or is it a market pricing issue? Critics suggest that sawmills' reluctance to pay market rates creates artificial scarcity, while supporters note that higher timber costs increase production expenses, which may not be immediately absorbed by the market.
The situation highlights tensions between fair compensation for forest owners and operational challenges for sawmills, reflecting deeper structural and pricing dynamics in the German timber market.
Source: www.globalwood.org
