Timber prices in Germany have continued to move higher into early 2026, even though the wider economic picture offers little support.<\/p>\n
Spruce sawlogs (BC, 2b+) are now trading between \u20ac125 and over \u20ac145\/m\u00b3, depending on the region. In western areas such as North Rhine-Westphalia, prices are already nearing \u20ac150\/m\u00b3, while in northern Germany they generally remain below \u20ac130\/m\u00b3. The regional spread is becoming more visible as supply conditions differ from one area to another.<\/p>\n
More recent contracts signed in the first quarter show slightly narrower ranges, with spruce in the 2b+ class typically priced around \u20ac130\u2013133\/m\u00b3 and in some cases reaching \u20ac135\/m\u00b3. Lower-grade B\/C assortments are currently moving at around \u20ac96\u2013100\/m\u00b3, while bark beetle timber continues to trade at a discount of roughly \u20ac20\/m\u00b3 compared with standard BC material.<\/p>\n
Pine has strengthened alongside spruce, exceeding \u20ac100\/m\u00b3 in many regions and gaining further ground where spruce availability is limited.<\/p>\n
What stands out is that this price movement is not supported by demand. Construction activity remains weak, building permits are still well below previous years, and export markets such as North America and China are providing little momentum. Under normal conditions, prices would be expected to soften.<\/p>\n
Instead, the market is being driven by supply\u2014and more precisely, by the lack of it.<\/p>\n
In 2025, bark beetle damage was almost completely absent. This removed a major source of additional timber that had previously kept the market supplied. At the same time, many forest owners reduced harvesting activity. Partly this was due to uncertainty about whether the beetle might return, and partly due to external advice encouraging owners to delay cutting.<\/p>\n
The result is a noticeably smaller volume of timber entering the market. In some cases, contracts agreed earlier could not be fully delivered by the end of 2025 and are now being executed in early 2026, often at lower prices than current market levels.<\/p>\n
Sawmills are already adjusting to the tighter situation. Roundwood availability is insufficient in many regions, and procurement efforts have intensified. Some mills have increased prices further in an attempt to mobilise additional supply, while others are shifting their raw material mix, bringing more pine into production to compensate for the lack of spruce.<\/p>\n
There is also growing concern within the industry about potential production disruptions if supply does not improve. The issue is not demand, but access to raw material.<\/p>\n
Industrial timber is seeing some of the strongest movements. Prices in this segment have increased sharply in percentage terms. One reason is that sawmills are increasingly using their own residues internally for pellet production, which reduces the volume available on the open market. As a result, they are forced to purchase more industrial wood externally, pushing prices higher.<\/p>\n
In the first quarter, premiums are being offered in some regions for fresh industrial timber, reflecting strong competition for limited volumes. At the same time, part of the available industrial wood has been temporarily held back or redirected in favour of sawlog processing.<\/p>\n
Weather conditions have added another layer. A cold and snowy winter has increased demand for energy wood and firewood, further reducing available stocks. High-quality firewood is being bought not only for immediate use but also to rebuild inventories ahead of the next heating season.<\/p>\n
Harvesting conditions are currently favourable, which keeps expectations alive that additional volumes could still reach the market. However, there is also concern that once the main harvesting period ends, supply could tighten further if stocks are not sufficiently replenished.<\/p>\n
Most existing contracts run until the end of April, and timber collection is currently moving quickly due to the tight supply situation.<\/p>\n
Hardwood continues to move in a different direction. Beech remains difficult, particularly in lower-quality assortments, where demand is weak. Export uncertainty is also weighing on the market, especially due to ongoing issues related to fumigation requirements. Oak is holding steady, although concerns are emerging about oak heart beetle infestations in regions such as Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt.<\/p>\n
For now, the market is being set by availability rather than demand.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":98291,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5204],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-98290","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n