Solid structural timber: Hardly any change

Only 15% of the surveyed manufacturers reported a good business situation, whereas 31% describe it as bad. The majority (54%) reported a satisfactory business situation. The same percentage of survey respondents (54%) stated that their order backlog remained unchanged in July. 23% of solid structural timber producers reported a bigger order backlog, while 23% described it as smaller.

When it comes to stock levels, there were hardly any changes in July. 75% of the surveyed manufacturers reported constant stock levels of raw wood for solid structural timber. At 85% of manufacturers, stock levels of the end product have not changed compared to June.

In July, the sales price indices (spruce/fir, non-visible quality solid structural timber, average value of 2014 = 100%) remained more or less constant, with one exception. The price index of list goods sold to direct buyers rose by 2.6% month on month to 114.9% and by 6.1% year on year. The index value of bar goods sold to timber trade companies fell by 0.2% to 113.7%, while slight increases were recorded in the price indices of list goods sold to timber trade companies (+0.6% to 113.6%) and of bar goods sold to direct buyers (+0.8% to 118.1%).

The purchase price index (spruce/fir, KD) remained nearly unchanged at 119% in July.

Franz-Josef Lückge researches the prices and carries out the survey on market assessments among member companies of the association Überwachungsgemeinschaft KVH e.V., Wuppertal.