Update 2023/2024
According to the Holzkurier’s survey, a total of 31.54 million m³ of log wood were cut in German softwood sawmills (with an annual cutting volume of over 50,000 m³) in 2023. Compared to 2022, when 32.54 million m³ had been cut, this corresponds to a slight decrease of 3% or 1 million m³.
Ziegler Holzindustrie in Plößberg is undisputedly the biggest single production site in Germany with 2.1 million m³ in 2023. Ilim Nordic Timber of Wismar came in second with 1.8 million m³. Mercer in Saalburg overtook ante-holz of Somplar and is now the new number three with 1.45 million m³.
Read more: “Less is more”
Instructions: The size of the circle symbolises the output of the single production sites (according to data gathered by Timber-Online). By clicking on a circle, the address of the selected company appear under the interactive map. To compare companies, press and hold the shift key and click on the desired production sites.
Update 2022/2023
In 2022, German sawmills, which cut more than 50,000 m³ a year, reported a total cutting volume of around 32.5 million m³. It is the first time in several years that a slight downward trend can be observed. When you add the companies, which did not provide any information, cutting amounted to over 35 million m³ in Germany according to estimates by Timber-Online.
The biggest single production site was once again Ziegler Holzindustrie in Plößberg-Betzenmühle with a cutting volume of 2.2 million m³. Ilim Nordic Timber in Wismar (1.9 million m³) is in second place, followed by ante-holz in Somplar (1.4 million m³). Binderholz reported a total cutting volume of 3.5 million m³ at its four sawmills, defending the title of Germany’s biggest sawmill group in 2022 as well.
Update 2021/2022
Germany's sawmills, which published their figures, reported a volume of 32.76 million m³ for 2021. When you add the companies, which did not provide any information, cutting totaled at least 35.73 million m³ in Germany according to estimates by Timber-Online. This is an increase of well over 2 million m³ on 2020.
The biggest single production site was once again Ziegler Holzindustrie in Plößberg. In 2021, 2.2 million m³ were cut at this sawmill. Ilim Nordic Timber in Wismar remained the second biggest sawmill with 1.9 million m³ and is followed by Mercer Timber Products in Saalburg-Ebersdorf with 1.35 million m³.
Binderholz still holds the title of Germany’s biggest sawmill group with its four sawmills in Kösching, Baruth, Wolfegg and Oberrot and an overall cutting volume of 3.47 million m³ in 2021. Ilim reported 3 million m³ for the two sawmills in Wismar and Landsberg. At ante-holz’s sawmills in Bromskirchen-Somplar and Rottleberode cutting amounted to 2.6 million m³ in 2021.
The target figures for 2022 predict a cutting volume of around 33.9 million m³. Including the companies whose volumes were estimated by Timber-Online, German sawmills could cut a total of 36.5 million m³ of log wood this year.
Read more: Sawmills with a further increase in cutting in 2021
Update 2020/2021
German companies which reported their figures cut a total of around 30.9 million m³ in 2020, i.e. 3.8% more than in the year before. This volume is particularly remarkable considering the ongoing coronavirus pandemic which led to short-term stops in production during the first lockdown in March. Last year, most German sawmills were either able to cut the same volumes as in 2019 or even raise cutting volumes. If you add those companies, which did not report their figures, cutting amounted to at least 33.5 million m³, as Timber-Online estimates.
In 2020, Ziegler Holzindustrie of Plößberg was once again the biggest single production site with a cutting volume of 2.2 million m³, followed by Ilim Nordic Timber of Wismar with 1.9 million m³ and Mercer Timber Products of Saalburg-Ebersdorf with 1.35 million m³. Binderholz is the biggest sawmill group in Germany with four production sites in Kösching, Baruth, Wolfegg and Oberrot and an overall cutting volume of 3.44 million m³. Ilim’s output at its two sawmills in Wismar and Landsberg amounted to 3 million m³. The Pfeifer Holz group, with production sites in Lauterbach, Uelzen and Unterbernbach, reported a cutting volume of 2.35 million m³ in 2020.
Those companies which reported their 2021 target figures to Timber-Online wanted to reach a total of around 31.6 million m³ this year. That alone would be an increase of more than 2%. If you add the figures based on 2020, cutting could amount to approximately 32.9 million m³ this year (+6.4% compared to 2020).
Read more: Further increase in cutting in 2020
