Storm damage to forests across central Europe could lead to a sharp rise in log availability, denting prices which had been set to go up, according to industry newsletter Random Lengths.
Recent storms in eastern Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia resulted in some three to eight million m3 of fallen timber, with spruce and pine being most affected.
Log prices had previously looked set to rise due to wet conditions slowing felling operations. But sudden log availability has historically softened prices in Europe.
Some timber traders believe the extra logs will only have a “moderate” effect on the market, taking several months to have any impact.
