A shortage of fresh timber in Germany has driven prices for logs, particularly spruce and pine, to historic levels. The German Federal Association of the Wood Industry warned that if more wood is not felled soon, the situation could escalate into an "existential crisis for the sawmill and wood industry" by early 2026.
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The shortage is linked to the unusually wet and cool summer, which limited bark beetle populations and storm damage, reducing the amount of damaged timber available for harvesting. Damaged wood typically accounts for around half of all timber felled in Bavaria. Sawmills now face empty warehouses, while wood dealers who purchased stock earlier in the year, such as Matthias Birnkammer in Upper Bavaria, remain unaffected.
The German Sawmill Industry Association is urging forest owners to fell pine and spruce trees to meet demand, while forestry experts suggest this is also an opportunity to invest in more climate-resilient mixed forests.
Current log prices are just under €130 per cubic metre, the highest in 35 years. Firewood prices, however, remain largely stable, as much of the supply was cut last winter. The limited bark beetle damage this year, while beneficial for forest health, has indirectly triggered the surge in timber costs.
Source: www.globalwood.org
