yesterday at 12:29
,Germany
Timber prices on the German market are rising in 2025 at a rate not seen in decades. Spruce roundwood has already surpassed the 130 euros per cubic meter mark in many regions. In some cases, contracts are being signed at 133 euros per cubic meter, with even higher prices paid for top-quality timber.
Forest owners report that the current timber price is the highest it has been in 35 years. „The developments in the timber market are currently historic and almost unpredictable for us,“ says a spokesperson for a forest owners’ association.
The sharp rise in prices for spruce and pine is due to several factors. On one hand, the supply of fresh timber, particularly beetle-infested wood, is scarce. The large quantities of beetle-infested wood from previous years have largely been processed by now. On the other hand, weather conditions this year resulted in significantly less beetle-infested wood than expected.
„The lack of beetle-infested wood is having a massive impact on market supply,“ explains a representative of the forest owners’ association. According to the associations, damaged wood accounted for around 50 percent of the marketed timber volume in recent years.
The timber market is therefore heavily reliant on so-called damaged wood. The State Institute for Forestry and Forest Management also emphasizes that without damaged wood, supplying the industry with timber would be significantly more difficult.
The rising timber prices have direct consequences for the construction and furniture industries, which are facing significantly higher material costs. Experts anticipate that prices could remain at a high level in the coming months, as supply continues to be limited while demand remains consistently high.
Forest owners and market observers are calling for sustainable use of timber stocks to avoid long-term supply bottlenecks. „We are facing a challenge that affects market players, policymakers, and the forestry sector alike,“ says an industry representative.
Current developments show that the timber market in Germany in 2025 is characterized by historically high prices, a scarce supply, and a dependence on damaged wood. Whether the situation will ease in the short term remains to be seen—for the industry, forest owners, and consumers, the current situation is exceptionally tense.
