Pollmeier recommends that forest owners without a contract refrain from logging. Based on market forecasts, the company will not accept any additional volumes in the first or second quarter of 2026, as was the practice in the previous season.
Pollmeier rejects reports that a general stop to purchasing log wood has been imposed. Preliminary contracts for beech log deliveries in the 2025/2026 hardwood season that have already been signed remain valid. Forestry companies and competitors expected that log purchases would resume at reduced prices starting in October. “Concluding contracts early on with higher prices is more important to us than price concessions during the season,” Ralf Pollmeier commented.
Pollmeier is, however, open to finding individual solutions in the case of those log suppliers with whom negotiations are already well advanced.
The decision affects beech sawlog deliveries to Creuzburg and Aschaffenburg, as well as beech peeling logs for Pollmeier’s LVL factory in Creuzburg. Purchasing activities for the sawmill in Malchow, however, continue.
Pollmeier gives the delivery commitments made in recent months as reason for suspending further negotiations. Many forestry companies secured large contract volume already in June and July in order to start the season early and avoid delayed deliveries in the second quarter. As a result, a large part of the log wood required by Pollmeier was contractually secured. Log supply is currently at a satisfactory level. In this context, the company points out that logging has to continue at full speed to avoid poorer quality as a result of delayed deliveries in the second quarter. Due to this situation, the company expects that the 2025/2026 season can be completed as planned for the first time in several years, with deliveries ending in June. This is said to be the only way to avoid a deterioration of the quality of log wood and, subsequently, lumber. High supply volumes of discolored beech lumber were recently reported.
Furthermore, Pollmeier also points to the development in lumber sales. The tariffs imposed on lumber imports into the USA effective October 15 will have a slowing impact on business.
