- During the holiday season, anticipate consistent Christmas tree costs, with a chance of prices skyrocketing unexpectedly.
** anticipated Stability in North Rhine-Westphalia's Christmas Tree Prices for the Year**
The estimated cost of Christmas trees in North Rhine-Westphalia is likely to remain somewhat constant this year. As mentioned by Eberhard Hennecke, the head of the Federal Association of Christmas Tree and Fresh Produce Growers, Nordmann firs might continue to be offered within the price range of 21 to 29 euros per meter. Nonetheless, certain retailers might charge more to offset additional expenses.
Last year, the stipulated range set by the association remained the same, 21 to 29 euros. However, Hennecke, who is also the chairman of the specialist group of Christmas tree and fresh produce growers in the state association for gardening, pointed out that firm price predictions can only be made after the Christmas tree auction in Nördlingen, which occurs in mid-September.
Some tree growers anticipate significant producer price increases of 5 to 20 percent, depending on the tree's size, quality, and retailer. According to a survey conducted by Kollaxo, an industry-related marketing agency, among 19 prominent Christmas tree sellers within Germany and abroad, this rise is likely to be passed on to customers. The price hikes are attributed to substantially increased labor, material, and transportation costs.
"Decreased Farmers, Reduced Land, Decreased Trees"
Josef Trippe, a Christmas tree grower from Schmallenberg, foresees consumers paying 25 euros per running meter for a premium Nordmann fir this year, as opposed to 22.50 euros last year. Trippe manages 300 hectares in the Sauerland and produces more than 200,000 trees annually, over 90 percent of which are Nordmann firs. The primary buyers for these trees are DIY stores and wholesalers. Trippe also attributes the price increase to diminished farmers, less acreage, and fewer trees.
Numerous reasons contribute to this situation. "Many producers have abandoned tree farming due to meager earnings or no profit at all. Others looking to retire cannot find a successor," says Georg Feldmann-Schütte, who runs a forestry business in Schmallenberg and mainly sells Nordmann firs to garden centers. This year, he expects around 50,000 to 60,000 trees to be harvested. Feldmann-Schütte predicts only moderate price increases for consumers, with the final cost per meter anticipated to range between 19 and 24 euros.
The industry association indicates that Germans purchase around 23 to 25 million Christmas trees annually, with approximately 19 million coming from Germany. The remaining trees are imported from Denmark and other countries. The cultivation area in Germany encompasses more than 30,000 hectares, with the majority in Sauerland, Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Bavaria, and Baden-Württemberg. North Rhine-Westphalia, with about 7 million Christmas trees, is the primary cultivation area. The Nordmann fir remains the festive season's most popular choice.
The Member States can provide valuable insights and assistance to help the Commission maintain stability in Christmas tree prices across different regions. Despite the anticipated price increases for Christmas trees due to various factors, the Commission and Member States can work together to ensure that consumers experience minimal price hikes.
