While the past few years have been characterized by acquisitions and substantial increases in production output, 2024 will be more about consolidation.
With a planned production output of 4.5 million m³ in 15 sawmills (+8%) in 2024, Binderholz will become the new market leader in Europe, taking the title from Stora Enso (maximum output 4.1 million m³ according to estimates by the Holzkurier).
In total, production is expected to increase by 5% in 2024. However, at around 41.6 million m³, the target output is still 1.5 million m³ smaller than that of 2023.
No new company made it into the Top 10.
With a planned production increase of 37%, the HS Timber Group gained seven places and now shares seventh place with Rettenmeier. The main reason for this positive development is the company’s new sawmill in Argentina, which officially started production at the end of April.
The Ziegler Group also plans a considerable 24% increase in its lumber production output compared to last year. In the past two years, increases of this kind were only achieved through takeovers. Swedish company Holmen Wood Products gained six places in the ranking, with a production increase of “only” 5% compared to 2023 and a target output of 1.5 million m³.
Metsä Fibre saw the biggest drop. The Finnish group lost seven places and now ranks 20th among Europe’s biggest softwood lumber producers.
The largest average output per sawmill was reported by two companies which are in the bottom third of the ranking in terms of volume. Ilim Timber produces 1.5 million m³ of softwood lumber at two sawmills. Mercer Timber also plans to produce 1.4 million m³ of lumber at two production sites.
While Norwegian company Moelven wants to increase its lumber production by 14%, the situation of Finnish companies is very different. With the exception of Versowood, which plans to keep its production output constant, Finnish producers will reduce their production volumes compared to last year, according to estimates by the Holzkurier. In Sweden, a somewhat more differentiated picture emerges. Vida Wood, SCA and Holmen Wood Products, i.e. three companies, report planned production increases, while Södra Timber plans to keep its production output at last year’s level. Setra Group’s lumber output, on the other hand, will decrease by 6% compared to 2023.
There is also no clear trend to be discerned among the Central European producers which have not been mentioned yet. Mayr-Melnhof Holz, ante-holz and Mercer Timber reportedly plan to increase production, while Rettenmeier and Ilim Timber want to keep their respective output constant compared to 2023. Pfeifer, on the other hand, plans to reduce production this year.
Winners:
- HS Timber: up 7 places, 37% increase in production
- Holmen: 6 places gained, 5% increase in output
Losers:
- Metsä Fibre: down 7 places, 6% decrease in production
- Ziegler: one place lost despite a 24% increase in production; 24% increase without any acquisition; increases of more than 20% in 2023 and 2022 only achieved through takeovers
German companies dominate in terms of biggest average output/sawmill (five German producers in the Top 7):
1) Ilim Timber (750)
2) Mercer Timber (681)
3) ante-holz (617)
4) HS Timber (513)
5) Ziegler Group (510)
6) SCA (420)
7) Rettenmeier (410)
| Ranked acc. to target production output 2024, volumes in 1,000 m³ |
||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place 2023 | > | Place 2024 | Company | Headquarters | Sawmills | Production 2023 | Target production 2024 | Diff. in % |
| 2 | ↑ | 1 | Binderholz ¹⁾ | AT | 15 | 4,150 | 4,500 | 8 |
| 1 | ↓ | 2 | Stora Enso ²⁾ | FI | 14 | 3,897 | 4,100 | 5 |
| 3 | ↔ | 3 | Pfeifer Group | AT | 9 | 3,100 | 3,000 | –3 |
| 4 | ↔ | 4 | Vida Wood | SE | 12 | 2,500 | 2,700 | 8 |
| 7 | ↑ | 5 | Moelven Group | NO | 15 | 1,928 | 2,198 | 14 |
| 5 | ↓ | 6 | SCA Timber | SE | 5 | 1,900 | 2,100 | 11 |
| 6 | ↓ | 7 | Rettenmeier Holzindustrie ³⁾ | DE | 5 | 2,050 | 2,050 | 0 |
| 14 | ↑ | 7 | HS Timber Group ⁴⁾ | AT | 4 | 1,500 | 2,050 | 37 |
| 8 | ↓ | 9 | Ziegler Holzindustrie | DE | 4 | 1,650 | 2,040 | 24 |
| 10 | ↔ | 10 | Mayr-Melnhof Holz | AT | 5 | 1,685 | 1,865 | 11 |
| 9 | ↓ | 11 | ante-holz | DE | 3 | 1,800 | 1,850 | 3 |
| 12 | ↔ | 12 | Södra Timber ⁵⁾ | SE | 8 | 1,770 | 1,770 | 0 |
| 19 | ↑ | 13 | Holmen Wood Products | SE | 5 | 1,450 | 1,520 | 5 |
| 11 | ↓ | 14 | Setra Group ⁶⁾ | SE | 7 | 1,591 | 1,500 | –6 |
| 14 | ↔ | 14 | Ilim Timber ⁷⁾ | DE | 2 | 1,500 | 1,500 | 0 |
| 18 | ↑ | 16 | Fruytier Scierie | BE | 9 | 1,390 | 1,440 | –7 |
| 14 | ↓ | 17 | Versowood | FI | 4 | 1,400 | 1,400 | 0 |
| 20 | ↑ | 18 | Mercer Timber ⁸⁾ | DE | 2 | 1,287 | 1,362 | 6 |
| 17 | ↓ | 19 | UPM Timber ⁹⁾ | FI | 4 | 1,500 | 1,350 | –10 |
| 13 | ↓ | 20 | Metsä Fibre ¹⁰⁾ | FI | 7 | 1,386 | 1,300 | –6 |
| Total | 39,434 | 41,595 | 5 | |||||
Information:
1) Binderholz: Extrapolation from the first four months
2) Stora Enso: annual report, Deliveries 2023; still 16 sawmills in 2023; two-month shutdown in Bad St. Leonhard; 2024: estimate by the Holzkurier
3) Rettenmeier Holzindustrie: Latvian sawmill in Inčukalns is being expanded and will be put into operation in autumn
4) HS Timber: sale of sawmill in Sebeș/RO to Ziegler Group in April 2023; start of new sawmill in Argentina in Q1 2024; final assembly underway in Belarus
5) Södra Timber: 2023: annual report; 2024: estimate by the Holzkurier
6) Setra: 2023 volume as stated in Sustainability Report; 2024: estimate by the Holzkurier
7) Ilim Timber: Single production sites – production in 2023: Ilim Nordic Timber: 975,000 m³, Ilim Timber Bavaria: 525,000 m³; 2024: Ilim Nordic Timber: 975,000 m³, Ilim Timber Bavaria: 525,000 m³
8) Mercer Timber: Single production sites – production in 2023: Saalburg-Ebersdorf: 812,000 m³, Torgau: 475,000 m³; 2024: Saalburg-Ebersdorf: 862,000 m³, Torgau: 500,000 m³
9) UPM Timber: 2023: annual report; 2024: estimate by the Holzkurier
10) Metsä Fibre: 2023: annual report; 2024: estimate by the Holzkurier
