Market Overview
In March 2026, the German pallet and wooden packaging timber market showed a diverging trend, with solid timber prices continuing to rise while plywood prices declined further.
This reflects shifting demand dynamics within the wood packaging supply chain.
The data is based on the HPE price index, supported by research collaboration with the University of Bonn.
Solid Timber Prices Remain Strong
Prices for solid timber used in pallets and packaging continued their upward trend:
- Pallet timber index: 104.33 (Jan 2026 = 100)
MoM: +2.4%
YoY: +15.0%
- Packaging timber index: 104.44
MoM: +2.8%
YoY: +13.8%
This indicates strong underlying demand supporting price growth.
Plywood Prices Under Pressure
Plywood prices continued to decline:
- Index: 99.72
- MoM: -0.3%
- YoY: -2.8%
Following a sharper drop in January, the continued decline suggests ongoing weakness in this segment.
OSB Shows Moderate Growth
OSB (Oriented Strand Board) prices recorded modest gains:
- Index: 100.77
- MoM: +0.4%
- YoY: +16.9%
However, the pace of growth has slowed compared to late 2025.
Market Insights
The German wood packaging market shows clear divergence:
- Solid timber: strong demand and rising prices
- Plywood: weak demand and declining prices
- OSB: moderate and stabilizing growth
This highlights shifting demand patterns across different product categories.
About the Index
The HPE price index is based on monthly surveys of member companies and covers:
- Sawn timber
- Pallet components
- Plywood
- OSB
It includes both domestic and imported purchasing prices, weighted by typical order volumes.
Conclusion
In March 2026, the German pallet and packaging timber market displayed structural divergence.
Solid timber remains the main driver of price increases, while plywood continues to face downward pressure.
Future trends will depend on:
Industrial demand recovery in Europe and supply chain inventory adjustments