Further price increases in the wooden pallet and packaging industry are ‘inevitable’, according to the European Federation of Wooden Pallet & Packaging Manufacturers (FEFPEB), as the impact of the pandemic continues to be felt by companies across Europe and the rest of the world.
The organization stated that it expects sustained rises in the price of raw materials – including timber and steel – and availability issues in certain markets, to create upwards pressure on prices for several months.
Independent indices from member states showed extraordinarily high price rises during quarter 4 of 2020, as collated in FEFPEB’s quarterly Pallet Timber Price Index. This trend has continued – and in some markets, accelerated – across Europe into 2021. Some shortages have been reported.
The pallet and packaging sector in most of FEFPEB’s member countries showed a decrease in trade across 2020. However, as the construction trade and other businesses have recovered, volumes have begun to increase again, creating pressure on pallet timber.
Other international factors, including the diversion of Scandinavian and German timber to satisfy demand in the US and Chinese markets, and issues such as a drop in Irish timber production, have also impacted the situation. In the US, pallet and packaging timber has reportedly doubled in price in recent months.
FEFPEB secretary general Fons Ceelaert said: “On the one hand producers of wooden pallets and packaging need to satisfy their customers’ demands and growing volumes, but on the other, they are experiencing enormous price increases on the wood market. As wood costs account for more than 70 percent of the price of a wooden pallet then pallet price increases are unavoidable.
“In the end – according to market rules – the raw material is sold to those paying the most, which currently is the US timber market as Bloomberg lumber futures climbed to a record high (February 18). So wooden pallets and packaging producers are facing increasingly non-profitable production, wood shortages and serious economic decisions about slowing or even shutting down production.”
Meanwhile, a sustained and severe imbalance in the international freight industry has disrupted usual trade flows globally, caused a shortage of capacity, and pushed shipping prices up.
FEFPEB, which highlighted the developing situation in autumn 2020, said the increased administrative burden, delays, and costs associated with the UK’s departure from the EU on December 31, are causing further impact for businesses. There was also a Brexit-related surge in demand for ISPM15-compliant pallets and packaging, which was most intense in the weeks immediately before the deadline. This was reportedly still high during February, suggesting a lack of preparation on the part of some customers.
“Ongoing international pressures on many categories of raw material make further price rises in sectors including wooden pallets and packaging inevitable. The situation is complex and, with supply chains around the world affected, we expect this to continue for several months,” said Ceelaert.
“We advise manufacturers and repairers to maintain an ongoing dialogue with their customers to ensure they are well-informed about this situation. FEFPEB, together with our member associations, is continuing to observe the situation and will issue further updates when needed.”
The European Federation of Wooden Pallet & Packaging Manufacturers (Fédération Européenee des Fabricants de Palettes and Emballages en Bois – FEFPEB) represents European national timber packaging associations, including the pallet, lightweight packaging, and industrial packaging sectors. It was established in 1946. It is a not-for-profit organization, whose objectives include the promotion of timber packaging and representing the interests of the European wooden pallet and packaging industry. FEFPEB membership is comprised of national professional associations of wooden pallet and packaging manufacturers in Europe.