Austrian sawmill production on 2012-level

For 2013, around 12.5 million sm³ * was the production volume of Austria's industrial softwood sawmills (i.e. 50,000 sm³/yr consumption and beyond). This amount is roughly on 2012-level – based on data provided by the companies. However, the objective a year ago was to convert a total of 13 million sm³ this year.

Little has changed in the various production sites. Higher outputs of some sawmills were offset by reductions of others – the reasons being tight roundwood supply and/or the high roundwood prices in 2013. On the basis of an average yield of 55%, the 40 largest Austrian sawmills have thus produced almost 6.9 million m³ of softwood lumber last year. According to the statistics of the European Organisation of the Sawmill Industry (EOS), the figure in 2012 was at 8.793 million m³, for 2013 the estimate had been 8.63 million m³. This represents a decrease of 2% (see link 2). The fact is that some sawmills reduced their output or simply cancelled one shift, which has often been recommended in various technical meetings and expertises. Also, some companies have extended vacation close-down beyond Christmas. Regarding new installations or expansions in Austria's sawmills there is nothing to be said at this point. The industry is still in a consolidation phase. If investments are made, it is in downstream processing.

What's to come in 2014? According to the EOS, the sawmill industry of the European member states will produce about 109 million m³ of lumber. According to an EOS-estimate, Austria's output will again be on last year's level. A production increase is mainly expected for Germany.

* Note : If no current figures were available, the sum was calculated based on last year's values.