In the fourth quarter of 2024, 174,000 m³ of beech and oak lumber were produced in German sawmills. This is the smallest production volume ever recorded since the Federal Statistical Office started collecting data. Compared to the previous quarter, output decreased by 11,000 m³ or 6%. A similar decrease can be observed year on year. In the fourth quarter of 2023, 187,000 m³ of hardwood lumber were produced, i.e. 13,000 m³ or 7% more than in 2024.
In 2024, beech and oak lumber production totaled 776,000 m³ in Germany, which corresponds to a decline of 73,000 m³ compared to 2023. It was also the first time since 2019 that the full-year production output remained below the 800,000-m³-mark.
| Beech and oak in 1,000 m³ | ||||||
| Quarter | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 300 | 253 | 260 | 261 | 245 | 202 |
| 2 | 288 | 242 | 295 | 279 | 235 | 215 |
| 3 | 309 | 201 | 246 | 232 | 182 | 185 |
| 4 | 243 | 245 | 240 | 203 | 187 | 174 |
| Total | 1,140 | 941 | 1.041 | 975 | 849 | 776 |
| Diff.* | – | –17% | 11% | –6% | –13% | –9% |
