The European hardwood industry needs a competitive operating environment

Schwalmstadt, 22 September 2026 – Martin Häusling (European Green Party), Member of the European Parliament and spokesperson for agricultural and forestry policy, visited the company ABALON HARDWOOD in Hesse. Together with representatives from the company, the European Organisation of the Sawmill Industry (EOS) and the German Sawmill and Timber Industry Federation (DeSH), he discussed current challenges and the future of the European hardwood industry. The focus was on securing the supply of raw materials, the competitiveness of domestic processing and strengthening European value chains.

Keeping value creation in Europe

European hardwood is a high-quality, renewable raw material sourced from some of the world’s most sustainably managed forests and is used, amongst other things, for furniture, flooring and interior fittings. At the same time, the sector is facing growing economic pressure. High production costs, increasing regulatory requirements and international competition for high-quality roundwood are placing a strain on European processors.

In particular, the rising demand for roundwood from countries outside the European Union is exacerbating the situation. When European roundwood is exported unprocessed, value creation, jobs – particularly in rural areas – and investment potential are lost in Europe. The sector is therefore calling for the creation of framework conditions that strengthen the processing of domestic raw materials within Europe.

“The discussion with Martin Häusling, MEP, was a good opportunity to demonstrate that modern hardwood sawmills are part of the solution within the forestry and timber value chain on the path towards a circular bioeconomy,” explained Roland Feit, Executive Director of Sales at ABALON HARDWOOD. “Europe has excellent hardwood resources, and only by utilising them can we ensure positive climate impacts for European societies. It is crucial to shape the framework conditions in such a way that these raw materials are processed in Europe wherever possible. In doing so, we not only secure regional value creation and jobs in rural areas, but also lay the foundations for investment and innovative products made from a sustainable raw material.”

 Strengthening the competitiveness of businesses

The participants made it clear that European hardwood is a strategic, renewable raw material and that a competitive policy framework is the foundation for a strong European hardwood industry. Our businesses rely on a reliable supply of raw materials and competitive production conditions. “Particularly against the backdrop of numerous business closures in recent years, European policymakers must avoid imposing additional burdens and enable investment in modern and resource-efficient processing,” explains Diego Benedetti, Economic Affairs Director at EOS.

During a tour of the production facilities, Häusling learnt about the processing stages and the requirements for competitive hardwood production, and gained an insight into how European hardwood logs can be processed as efficiently and completely as possible into high-quality products using modern technologies.

Combining sustainable forest management with industrial use

In conclusion, the participants emphasised the importance of ongoing dialogue between policymakers and industry. “Sustainable forest management, an efficient timber industry and the long-term use of wood as a renewable raw material must be considered together,” stressed Julia Möbus, Managing Director of the German Sawmill and Timber Industry Association (DeSH).

Future European regulations should therefore help to strengthen domestic processing, facilitate investment and retain as much added value as possible from European timber resources within Europe.

Press contact

Deutsche Säge- und Holzindustrie

Johannes König

Chausseestraße 99

10115 Berlin

Tel.: +49 30 2061 399-00

Fax: +49 30 2061 399-89

E-Mail: presse@zukunft-holz.de

Internet: www.zukunft-holz.de

About EOS

Founded in 1958, the European Organisation of the Sawmill Industry (EOS) is a non-profit association based in Brussels that represents the interests of the European sawmill industry at European and international level.

Through its member associations and associate members, EOS represents around 32,000 sawmills in 14 European countries (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Norway, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland). These companies manufacture, amongst other things, sawn timber, timber frames, glued laminated timber, decking, flooring, joinery products, fences and various other timber products. Together, they account for around 80 per cent of total European sawn timber production in a sector that generates a turnover of around 50 billion euros in the EU and provides around 220,000 jobs.

About ABALON HARDWOOD Hessen GmbH

Abalon HARDWOOD is one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of hardwood sawn timber and operates sawmills in Schwalmstadt (Germany) and Heiligenkreuz (Austria), which specialise in particular in the sawing of beech roundwood and its processing into high-quality sawn timber products. The products are sold to European and international customers. Through continuous investment in innovative technologies, as well as in enhancing sustainability and resource efficiency, the company contributes to strengthening the European hardwood value chain and promoting the responsible use of wood as a renewable resource.

About the German Sawmill and Timber Industry

For over 125 years, the German Sawmill and Timber Industry Federation (DeSH) has represented the interests of the sawmill and timber industry at federal, state and European level. With their diverse range of products made from the renewable raw material wood, the 350 member companies of the DeSH form the link between the forest and wood processing right through to timber construction. They are a vital pillar of the bioeconomy and key to the sustainable transformation of the economy and society. The DeSH advocates the sustainable processing and use of wood as a raw and construction material, contributing to climate protection, employment and value creation for a sustainable German economy.