Substantial decrease in oak log imports

Article by Martina Nöstler (translated by Eva Guzely) | 13.03.2025 - 11:12

Last year, Germany reduced its oak log imports by 25% compared to 2023. While purchases from main supplier France halved, increases were recorded in imports from Croatia and Poland.

In 2024, Germany imported slightly more than 22,000 m³ of oak logs. As figures published by Destatis show, this corresponds to a 25% decrease compared to 2023. Imports from France were down by 54% and amounted to only 6,800 m³. Decreases were also recorded in purchases from the US (2,350 m³; -18%), Austria (2,250 m³; -17%), Switzerland (2,000 m³; -61%) and Slovenia (1,400 m³; -47%).

Meanwhile, bigger volumes of oak logs were imported from Croatia (2,500 m³; +21%) and Poland (1,100 m³; +90%) in 2024.

Germany oak log imports | 2023–2024
Country	2023	2024	Diff. in %
Volumes in m³
France	6,810	3,114	–54
Croatia	2,455	2,978	21
Poland	1,100	2,094	90
USA	2,353	1,926	–18
Austria	2,247	1,860	–17
Czech Republic	1,070	1,056	–1
Switzerland	1,972	769	–61
Slovenia	1,438	769	–47
Romania	230	704	206
Belgium	283	530	87
Other countries	2,185	846	–61
Total	22,143	16,646	–25