The Polish Chamber of Commerce of the Timber Industry (PIGPD) has warned that the ongoing scarcity of oak wood is severely disrupting the domestic furniture sector. Administrative restrictions, including a 2024 moratorium and rules protecting "old forests," have cut raw material supply while pushing prices higher.
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Data from State Forest sales show that in H1 2026, oak availability fell by 24.8% compared to H1 2024, while prices rose 15.5%. System auction prices soared 38.4% year-on-year, favouring larger companies and pricing out smaller manufacturers.
The flooring sector, largely composed of SMEs dependent on domestic oak, is particularly affected. Net profitability is negative (-4.3% in H1 2025), and around 40% of companies continue to operate at a loss, prompting production cuts, plant closures, layoffs, and potential relocation abroad.
PIGPD stresses that this crisis is structural, not temporary, and warns that further restrictions to protect "primeval forests" could worsen supply issues. The Chamber calls for urgent corrective actions: assessing the economic impact of moratoriums, creating a stable state raw materials policy, and balancing nature conservation with industry needs.
Without intervention, oak is increasingly treated as a luxury commodity, threatening jobs, regional development, and Poland's timber-processing industry.
Source: www.biznes-meble.pl
