The German Association of Wood Packaging, Pallets and Export Packaging (HPE) price index shows that solid wood and wood-based materials for the production of pallets and wood packaging continued to increase. Apart from OSB, all price indices have reached new highs. The index for solid wood for wooden packaging is now at an all-time high.
Solid wood for pallets
The index for solid wood for pallets continues to climb at an all-time high after the other. Since the second quarter of 2016, the index has been rising and since the third quarter of 2017 has consistently been at its highest ever. After ever faster rising prices, the price increase has recently slowed down, but is still strong. The index stands at 177.3 points. This is 1.8% more than in the first quarter of 2018 and 12.8% more than in the second quarter of 2017.
Solid wood for wooden packaging
The index for solid wood for wooden packaging stands at 153.0 points, 2.5% more than in the previous quarter and 7% more than in the previous year. In recent quarters, price growth accelerated and reached a new all-time high in the last quarter. The previous highest level was reached at 149.4 points in the first quarter of 2014.
Plywood for wood packaging
Since the 4th quarter of 2017, the index for plywood for wood packaging has reached new highs. Currently, the index stands at 134.9 points. This is 3.2% more than in the first quarter of 2018 and a whopping 18.2% more than in the same quarter of the previous year. Since the end of a price depression that stretched beyond the year 2016 until the beginning of 2017, the index is rising rapidly and has barely lost momentum.
OSB for wood packaging
Only OSB for wood packaging is still relatively cheap. The index stands at just 92.4 points, but has the strongest momentum. Compared to the first quarter of 2018, it is 4.4%, even 22.4% higher than in the same quarter of the previous year. The index is far from highs. The previous record of 109.2 points comes from the year 2007. But the high dynamics are right market observers, who see for OSB a development of overcapacity towards a shortage. Should the index maintain its rapid growth, it should crack the 100-point mark at the end of 2018.
| 100 = Qu.1/2005 | Index value Qu.2 2018 | Difference Qu.1 2018 | Difference Qu.2 2017 |
| Solid wood for pallets | 177,3 | 1,80% | 12,80% |
| Solid wood for wooden packaging | 153,0 | 2,50% | 7,00% |
| Plywood for packaging | 134,9 | 3,20% | 18,20% |
| OSB for packaging | 92,4 | 4,40% | 22,40% |