With rising energy prices, consumers and industry are looking for alternatives. This affects wood sales – and prices.
Erfurt (dpa/th) – The demand for firewood, but also energy wood for industrial purposes, has risen sharply in Thuringia and is not abating. At the same time, the price for wood has risen significantly due to the tight demand, said the state company Thüringenforst. At the moment, the bulk cubic meter of ready-to-store beech firewood with billets 33 centimeters long is over 90 euros at the firewood dealer. At Fichte it is about 70 euros.
In the firewood sector, however, restrictions must be observed. “The addition of wood stoves and wood-based fuel technology cannot simply be increased overnight,” explained Thüringenforst spokesman Horst Sproßmann. Firewood buyers are looking for hardwood, especially beech. “This is very limited due to the drought damage and increasing nature conservation restrictions, which is why there is a shortage in this area.”
The picture is different for spruce trees damaged by bark beetles. According to the information, this damaged wood can be sold well in the industrial wood sector, for example for the production of paper or cardboard. However, wood prices have not yet risen as much as they have for oil and gas. However, since demand from industry is also increasing, where gas furnaces are to be replaced by wood chips, rising prices can be expected.
