Wood pellets: Hamsters cause prices to rise
For example, people work seven days a week in Abtenau (Tennengau) near Salzburg Pellets, the fourth largest wood processing company in Salzburg. The company produces around 70,000 tons of pellets every year. This year, however, 15 percent more were delivered than in previous years.
Large purchases “unreasonable because it drives up prices”
Many customers hoard and build up stocks, which means that the annual requirement has increased significantly: “We get inquiries from all regions of Europe,” says Salzburg Pellets Managing Director Christian Pölzleitner. “And everyone in the region also wants to get additional pellets privately. That is of course very unreasonable, because unfortunately it drives prices up.” The right orders are currently up to mid-October, adds Pölzleitner: “But we are able to deliver, we can also deliver at short notice. Nobody in our region will have to freeze this year.”
Gerhard Löffler from the energy management department of the state of Salzburg has a similar view: “Actually, we wouldn’t have a supply crisis. We need 70,000 tons of pellets per year in Salzburg and we produce 120,000 tons in Salzburg. Only these 120,000 tons are produced evenly throughout the year – i.e. 10,000 tons per month. And since people are shopping earlier and more than usual right now, the supply is tight right now.”
Wood pellets: price increase due to hamsters
Hope panic buying will ease in fall
The price of pellets has increased by more than half today and is currently at a record level. In addition to the increasing demand, the loss of pellet deliveries from Russia and the Ukraine and the high energy costs are also having an effect. There is still no sign of a relaxation in prices in the coming months either.
However, hoarding is counterproductive, as relaxation is expected in the coming year in particular, says Löffler: “As far as the demand side is concerned, I assume that prices will calm down next year. I do hope that the hoarding and panic buying will subside in autumn and that the extreme price fluctuations we are currently experiencing will come to an end.”
Appeal for patience also during the conversion
Heating with pellets still makes sense, emphasizes the head of the energy management department: “Switching to renewables is economical. Even now, the pellets are still a third cheaper than the fossil supply. I advise patience – both in terms of supply and conversion. Because here, too, the installers are at their limit – they can’t do magic and can’t install more pellet heating systems and heat pumps than they are currently doing.”
Eleven new pellet plants are planned for the coming year in Austria, with the local wood there is also enough raw material. However, the energy experts are calling for producers and traders to be obliged to stockpile pellets, as is also provided for in the federal government’s programme. This should dampen the price swings that are currently occurring.