German sawmills are pressing to lower log prices. Some have floated Scandinavian imports as leverage. Forest owners are holding the line. So far, they are winning.<\/p>\n
Spruce prices remain near record levels even as lumber sales slow. What looks like a contradiction is, in fact, a structural pattern repeating across Europe.<\/p>\n
Disturbance in Nordic supply chains initially softens prices. But shifts in biomass policy and energy markets quickly tighten fibre availability. Central European pulp becomes uneconomic. Raw material supply contracts. Log prices hold.<\/p>\n
The result: a persistent disconnect between upstream scarcity and downstream weakness.<\/p>\n
In Lower Saxony, demand for spruce logs continues to exceed supply. BC-grade (2b+) trades at \u20ac135\u2013140\/m\u00b3. Pine is gaining ground as a substitute, priced at \u20ac95\u2013100\/m\u00b3, despite soft lumber markets.<\/p>\n
Industrial segments are tighter still. Pallet lumber has climbed to \u20ac40\u201350\/m\u00b3, with INK grades at \u20ac32\u201333\/m\u00b3 and OSB material slightly higher. Demand outpaces supply across these lower-grade categories.<\/p>\n
Larch and Douglas fir remain balanced, but at elevated levels.<\/p>\n
Hardwoods tell a different story. Beech is oversupplied. Domestic inventories are full, exports remain constrained, and additional hygiene requirements are limiting trade flows. Logging cuts since February have prevented a sharper imbalance.<\/p>\n
Oak has held up better. High-quality logs remain sought after, while mid- and lower-grade material trades steadily in line with last year.<\/p>\n
Firewood markets have cleared for the season. Buyers are stocked. Prices held firm, but rising energy costs point to an earlier and potentially more expensive start next cycle.<\/p>\n
Across the market, the signal is consistent: scarcity at the forest level is outweighing weakness at the mill gate.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":98512,"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-98511","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n