The sale of Christmas trees is entering the hot phase – with a nationwide price increase. Traders pass on the increased costs on the plantations to their customers.
The chips are flying, the chainsaw is whining. Philipp Wandel’s eyes flash with anticipation. He shapes the last Christmas trees with a saw. He puts some in Christmas tree stands, others he pushes through the packaging drum and wraps them in a fine white net.
Wandel’s farm in Kusterdingen near Tübingen is full of Christmas trees. He sells Nordmann firs, blue spruces and black pines here in many different sizes and shapes. The 40-year-old agricultural technician has been earning extra money from the Christmas trees for eight years.
“A beautiful tree just costs money”
Just a few more steps and then this year’s Christmas tree season can begin here in Kusterdingen. Wandel bought 400 trees from a plantation on the Ostalb. His customers will have to dig deeper into their pockets this year. In the past few years he hasn’t added anything, says Wandel, but this year there is simply no other way. “When the bill came from the plantation and I saw the amount, I had to swallow.” He has to pass on the increased plantation prices to his customers, otherwise the business would no longer be worthwhile for him.
A normal Christmas tree is between three and five euros more expensive for him this year. The 1.80 meter high Nordmann fir costs 38 euros, the four meter high fir costs around 160 euros. “A beautiful tree just costs money,” says Wandel. His customers understand that. He started selling on the first of December. Since then, his farm has been open six days a week, from morning to evening.
Fewer imported Christmas trees
The import of Christmas trees to Germany has fallen significantly in recent years. According to the Federal Statistical Office, a total of 1.8 million trees were introduced in 2022. That is 24.5 percent less than in the previous year.
In 2014, import figures reached the highest level in the past ten years – compared to this, the decline was 37.1 percent.
The Federal Statistical Office did not give reasons for the decline. 83.3 percent of the Christmas trees imported came from Denmark in 2022.
One to two euros more per meter of tree
Eberhard Hennecke also confirms that prices for Christmas trees are rising. He is chairman of the Federal Association of Christmas Tree Growers and manager of a forest products company in North Rhine-Westphalia. Hennecke estimates the average price increase this year to be around one to two euros per running meter. Increased production costs, higher personnel expenses and inflation are the main price drivers.
“With one or two euros more per running meter and the quantity that the companies sell, this will of course offset some costs,” calculates Hennecke, but actually it should be a little more. Of course, the cost calculation varies from company to company, and not everyone has to add something. However, he does not see any regional differences.
Supply worries through dryness and heat
In the coming years, the prices for the trees could continue to rise, says Hennecke. In recent years, many young trees have died due to drought and heat as a result of climate change. A 1.80 meter high Nordmann fir tree needs around ten years of growth. This means that a possible lack of offspring will only become noticeable later, Hennecke fears.
This is countered by a high demand for Christmas trees, according to the association chairman. The Corona years in particular have shown that the tree is still the focus of Christmas. Business was going well. However, if demand remains high and fewer trees are produced due to drought and heat, the price of the trees could continue to rise.