Having studied a number of sources, the experts of Ukrainian Biofuel Portal pellets-wood.com carried out a research regarding the wood pellet wholesale and retail prices movements on the German market for December 2013 – January 2014. The research provides the ability to examine the present market conditions and to predict the possible prices behavior for the first quarter of 2014.
In 2013 wood pellet production rate increased in comparison to 2013 and amounted to 2.3 million tonnes. The average German market price for wood pellets in December 2014 was EUR 285.61/t for a 6 tonnes order quantity, including VAT, which is 1.1% higher compared to the price in November 2012. However, in January 2014 all over the country the average market price decreased by 0.2% and reached EUR 284.93/t, including VAT.
It’s important to note the following regional market price differences in Germany:
- The lowest wood pellet price in January 2014 was found in the north and in the east of the country – EUR 273.96/t for a 6 tonnes order quantity. Compared to December 2013 the price decreased by 2.8%.
- In the center of Germany the average market price increased by 0.6% and amounted to EUR 284.19/t.
- In southern Germany the price remained almost on the same level – in December 2013 it was EUR 286.83/t for a 6 tonnes order quantity and EUR 286.87/t in January 2014, including VAT.
Larger quantities (more than 26 tonnes) were traded in December 2013 / January 2014 on the following conditions:
- North/East – €263.91/t in December 2013 and €254.35/t in January 2014 (-3.7%).
- Central region – €269.38/t in December 2013 and €267.05/t in January 2014 (-0.9%).
- South – €272.81/t in December 2013 and €271.94 in January 2014 (-0.3%), including VAT and chargers.
At the annual rate Germany market prices on the threshold of 2013/2014 slightly got higher in comparison to the previous time periods. The prices increased
- by + 6.2% – 6.3% compared to the same period of the previous year;
- by + 0.6% – 3.7% compared to November 2013.
However, no further price development on the German wood pellet market for the first quarter of 2014 is expected. The supply rate on the Central Europe market is quite stable. The marketing experts of Ukrainian Biofuel Portal report the world wood pellet supply is currently very high, thus, regular bulk deliveries for the German market are guaranteed. Moreover, unusually mild weather in Europe this winter caused a decrease in the wood pellet consumption rate at the end of 2013 compared to the same time period in 2012. As pellet import to the EU is growing from Eastern Europe and North America, the prices are likely to go down over a longer term period.
Author: Ivan Prokhorov
