German sawmills form united front as log prices test market limits

German sawmills are increasingly coordinating their purchasing strategies as they seek relief from record-high softwood log prices that many believe have become disconnected from developments in lumber markets. The discussion comes at a crucial point in the contracting season. In northern Germany, annual supply agreements negotiated earlier this year are approaching their end, while a significant share of contracted volumes has already been delivered. This has forced both forest owners and processors back to the negotiating table sooner than expected. According to market participants, the main concern for sawmills is not the absolute level of lumber prices ...