Beech and birch are becoming scarce: firewood is in short supply

Expensive energy and fears of a gas embargo ensure extreme demand for firewood. Many retailers are sold out. And: “I have the feeling that the shortage is being caused artificially,” says one of them.

RRapidly rising prices for gas and oil and the fear of a complete failure of Russian gas supplies have caused the demand for seasoned and dry firewood in the Rhine-Main area to explode. Anyone who has not yet ordered or bought firewood for next winter could go away empty-handed. The dealers are clueless. Many no longer accept new customers in order to at least be able to supply their regular customers. Some have stopped selling altogether, and some traders complain that they cannot buy enough wood from Hessenforst. Her prognosis: It won’t get any better in the foreseeable future.

“I’ve never experienced a situation like this.” Peter Willner is a firewood dealer in Nidda and faces the challenge of being able to deliver wood to at least his regular customers. “I hardly accept new customers anymore, and when I do, I point them out that the delivery time is up to 15 weeks and I can no longer guarantee delivery,” he says. The demand for firewood has increased to such an extent that he simply can no longer meet the demand.