{"id":98833,"date":"2026-05-25T21:48:32","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T21:48:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/?p=98833"},"modified":"2026-05-26T07:39:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T07:39:19","slug":"german-sawmills-grow-cautious-as-high-log-prices-squeeze-margins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/ro\/german-sawmills-grow-cautious-as-high-log-prices-squeeze-margins\/","title":{"rendered":"German sawmills grow cautious as high log prices squeeze margins"},"content":{"rendered":"

Germany\u2019s roundwood market is entering a more cautious phase after an extended period of exceptionally strong prices, with several developments now reducing the upward momentum that dominated the market through late 2025 and early 2026. Weakness in the construction sector, geopolitical instability linked to the conflict involving Iran and changing international trade conditions are all beginning to influence buying behaviour across the timber industry.<\/p>\n

The slowdown in construction activity remains the main issue. Demand for structural timber products has weakened across several European markets, and German sawmills are increasingly reacting to lower order intake by limiting raw material purchases. While sawlog supply has not increased dramatically, processors are no longer willing to accept continuously rising log prices without corresponding improvements in sawn timber markets.<\/p>\n

During the first months of the year, many mills continued buying aggressively due to low inventories and expectations of a stronger spring construction season. That mood has shifted noticeably in recent weeks. Buyers are now focusing more on short-term needs, while several mills are reducing purchasing volumes or delaying larger contracts.<\/p>\n

The change is particularly visible in the softwood sector. Spruce sawlog prices in parts of southern Germany had climbed to around 135\u2013145 \u20ac\/m3 roadside earlier this year for quality grades B\/C, with some premium dimensions traded even higher in tighter regions. In Bavaria and Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg, prices above 150 \u20ac\/m3 were occasionally reported during the strongest phases of the market. These levels were difficult for many sawmills to sustain as finished timber prices stopped increasing at the same pace.<\/p>\n

In western and central Germany, spruce sawlog prices have recently shown signs of stabilization or slight corrections, with current negotiations in some areas taking place closer to 120\u2013130 \u20ac\/m3 depending on quality, dimensions and delivery conditions. Buyers are becoming more selective, particularly regarding oversized logs and mixed qualities.<\/p>\n

Pine markets remain somewhat more stable but are also beginning to soften. Pine sawlogs in many German regions are currently trading around 95\u2013115 \u20ac\/m3 roadside, although demand varies significantly between domestic processors and export-oriented buyers. Hardwood markets continue showing mixed conditions, with oak remaining relatively firm due to limited supply and export demand, while beech markets remain weaker in several regions.<\/p>\n

The pressure on sawmills is becoming increasingly visible. Many processors report narrower margins as sawn timber prices fail to compensate for high raw material costs. Structural timber prices have lost part of the momentum seen during the winter, especially as construction activity across Germany remains subdued. Housing starts remain weak, financing costs continue affecting developers and many projects are still being postponed.<\/p>\n

At the same time, uncertainty linked to the conflict involving Iran is adding another layer of pressure to industrial markets. Energy costs, transport markets and broader economic expectations have again become more volatile. Although the timber industry is not directly dependent on the region itself, the general uncertainty is influencing investment decisions throughout Europe. Several companies are responding more cautiously to procurement and inventory planning.<\/p>\n

International trade flows are also changing. Export demand that previously supported European timber production has become less predictable. Sawmills continue monitoring demand from North Africa, the Middle East and Asia, but competition between suppliers has intensified and price expectations are becoming harder to maintain. Scandinavian producers, Central European mills and Baltic exporters are all competing for increasingly cautious buyers.<\/p>\n

The relationship between roundwood prices and finished timber markets has therefore become increasingly unbalanced. For much of the past year, sawmills accepted rising log prices because sawn timber markets remained strong enough to absorb the increases. That balance is now weakening. In several regions, mills are attempting to renegotiate purchasing conditions or reduce intake volumes in order to protect margins.<\/p>\n

Regional differences across Germany remain significant. Areas with controlled harvesting volumes and limited storm or beetle damage still maintain relatively stable markets. In contrast, regions with improving supply availability are already seeing softer roadside prices and slower contract activity. Forest owners are therefore facing a more fragmented environment than during the broad-based price increases of 2025.<\/p>\n

Despite the weaker mood, the market is not collapsing. Demand for wood products remains present, inventories are generally manageable and supply is still relatively disciplined compared with previous crisis periods. However, expectations have clearly changed. The market is moving away from the aggressive upward cycle that characterized the past year and toward a phase of stabilization, margin pressure and more cautious negotiations between forest owners and processors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Product<\/th>\nRegion<\/th>\nPrice range (\u20ac\/m\u00b3)<\/th>\nMarket trend<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Spruce sawlogs B\/C<\/td>\nBavaria<\/td>\n135\u2013150<\/td>\nStable to slightly weaker<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Spruce sawlogs B\/C<\/td>\nBaden-W\u00fcrttemberg<\/td>\n130\u2013145<\/td>\nHigh but softening<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Spruce sawlogs B\/C<\/td>\nCentral Germany<\/td>\n120\u2013135<\/td>\nModerate downward pressure<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pine sawlogs<\/td>\nNorthern Germany<\/td>\n95\u2013115<\/td>\nRelatively stable<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Douglas fir sawlogs<\/td>\nSouthern Germany<\/td>\n140\u2013160<\/td>\nFirm demand<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Beech logs<\/td>\nVarious regions<\/td>\n85\u2013120<\/td>\nMixed demand<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Oak logs (premium)<\/td>\nNational market<\/td>\n180\u2013300+<\/td>\nStrong export support<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":98834,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-98833","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nGerman sawmills grow cautious as high log prices squeeze margins - Timber Industry News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.timberindustrynews.com\/ro\/german-sawmills-grow-cautious-as-high-log-prices-squeeze-margins\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"ro_RO\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"German sawmills grow cautious as high log prices squeeze margins - 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