The storm, snow and rain events in mid-September caused damage to trees and forestry infrastructure. Regions in Styria and Lower Austria were particularly affected. However, there is no supply pressure for round sawn timber from the damaged timber. Due to the winter dormancy of the bark beetle, there is no time pressure for processing. Where damage to forest roads needs to be repaired, the damaged timber will only have a delayed effect on the market.

The domestic sawmill industry usually has sufficient stocks of coniferous round timber, although demand is currently picking up. Slight price increases are possible in Upper Austria, Salzburg, Tyrol and Vorarlberg. Timber harvesting activities are currently mostly limited to damaged timber. Where the infrastructure is intact, the assortments provided are transported away quickly. The leading assortment of spruce A/C 2b+ achieves between 90 and 110 euros/FMO throughout Austria. A slight increase in demand can also be expected for pine due to price increases in Burgenland, Upper Austria and Styria. Larch is in high demand with stable prices and demand is exceeding supply.

The locations of the paper, board and pulp industries are very well stocked with coniferous industrial timber.However, due to the increased supply caused by the calamity, the supply and therefore also the removal of wood from the forest is stagnating in some places.Prices are still stable.Demand for beech fibre wood is also stable.

On the energy wood market, high stock levels - mostly from the previous season - are ensuring very restrained demand. Quantities outside of long-term contracts are almost impossible to market.A revival is only expected in the course of the coming heating season.The firewood market is also currently saturated.In some cases, stocks are being cleared at ‘rock-bottom prices’.

The coming months should be used to process damaged timber so that no material suitable for breeding is available for the next bark beetle season.

All prices quoted relate to transactions in the period from August to the beginning of October 2024 and are net prices to which VAT must be added.The following tax rates apply to timber sales to entrepreneurs: 13 % for all product ranges in the case of flat-rate VAT, 13 % for energy wood/firewood and 20 % for round timber in the case of standard taxation.



Source: LK Österreich