More firewood! The war in Ukraine provokes the use of firewood in Central Europe

Firewood as a source of heat in winter is in great demand in Central and Eastern Europe. Sky-high energy prices and increased security in case Russia turns off the tap gasmakes many save firewood for heating.

“No one expected such a huge demand,” Thomas Leitner, an expert from the Austrian Chamber of Agriculture, explains to the EFE news agency, describing the current market in his country, where it is almost impossible to get firewood for heating houses.

The situation is similar in other countries in this heavily dependent on Russian gas region, such as the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania or Bulgaria, where, according to official figures, from 16% to 33% of the population regularly use firewood for heating. . . .

All indications are that these percentages will be significantly higher this year. winteras many are turning to wood as a less expensive and safer alternative gas and light.

“People are reorienting themselves to this traditional fuel, even where this heating was not common, and this is causing a shortage in the market,” Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Bulgaria Valentin Chambov summed up recently.

prices skyrocket

Firewood costs around $90 per cubic meter in both wealthy Austria and Bulgaria, the poorest country in Europe. European Union (EU), having risen in price this year by 55% and 70% respectively.

Even with such a strong increase, the increase in the cost of wood is moderate compared to the cost of gas and electricity.

The problem is that with consumption soaring, “there is no supply,” a businessman from a sector in the south of the Czech Republic, where important logging operations take place, tells EFE.

In addition to the unprecedented growth in demand, the near-total paralysis of the firewood market is also contributing to a reduction in supply in conventional supply chains.

Export from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine they were blocked for months by war and sanctions, and some governments such as Hungary and Bulgaria placed restrictions on sales abroad.

fear of cold

Also in other countries, the authorities began to take action on this issue, checking the irrational behavior of buyers, who already in the summer left store shelves empty, overstocking firewood and pellets.

“They bought three to four times what they need this winter,” Leitner says, reckoning that the supply now available in Austria, despite its dense forests, is limited to that of a few small alpine sellers.

To burn it in heating, firewood “needs to dry for two years,” the expert recalls.

Behind the shields is the fear of not being able to pay the electricity bill.

“I expect that if I continue with gas heating, the bills will be four or even five times higher, and I cannot afford it,” Zhivko Dimitrov, who works as a civil servant, tells EFE.

Russia has already cut off gas supplies to several countries, including Bulgaria, which must now buy gas from other sources at higher prices.

Market distortions?

Abandoning export restrictions, the Romanian government has capped the maximum price per cubic meter of firewood at 400 lei (just over 80 euros). The measure has sparked protests from the industry as it is considered offensive and detrimental.

Traders “who have already bought logs at 400 lei per cubic meter will not be able to sell them at the same price, incurring the costs of operation, transportation, storage and palletizing,” the association of industry employers (“Prolemn”) states in a report. release.

Vendors could sell it at uncontrollable prices abroad, he said, and households in rural areas, where firewood is used more and transport costs are higher, could be left without this traditional fuel.

For its part, the Hungarian government decided to limit both exports and domestic purchases and prices.

Per person, the maximum that can currently be purchased is 10 cubic meters at a price of 44 to 70 euros per cubic meter, depending on the type of wood. (EFE)