2.125m m³ of softwood sawlogs were exported from Germany during the course of the third quarter, roughly 39% less than in the same quarter of last year. At 806,527 m³ and 1.318m m³, exports to buyers both within and outside the EU were reduced to a similar extent by 33% and 39%, respectively. Figures from the federal statistics office (Destatis) show that the most pronounced decline in exports outside Europe occurred in those to China. Although China remained by far the biggest recipient of German softwood sawlogs at 1.243m m³, these exports were 45% lower than a year earlier. Double-figure percentage reductions were recorded for exports to all the main buyers within Europe. At 402,524 m³, 25% fewer sawlogs were delivered to Austria and heavy reductions were also registered in the exports to Belgium (-59% to 88,137 m³), to Lithuania (-28% to 78,138 m³), and to the Netherlands (-60% to 33,369 m³).
Whereas the export volumes fell, the arithmetical export prices rose sharply. At a total export value of €214.7m, the average value per unit was 56% higher than the previous year’s figure at €101.0/m³.
According to the meanwhile adjusted Destatis figures for the first quarter (+24%) and the second (0%), the nine-month period shows a 14% reduction in softwood-sawlog exports to 6.296m m³.
