German Wood Congress 2025 smashes record, uniting industry on critical path

 Friday, November 28, 2025

The German Wood Congress 2025, hosted by the German Sawmill and Wood Industry Association (DeSH), concluded in November at Motorworld Munich, marking a noteworthy milestone with record participation. With over 380 attendees and a fully booked trade exhibition featuring more than 50 companies, the event underscored the critical need for a strong, unified platform as the industry navigates economic uncertainty and complex policy shifts.

The high turnout, particularly in Bavaria—Germany’s leading forest state—demonstrates the sector’s determination to address current challenges head-on. DeSH President Dr. Stephan Lang noted, “The record attendance shows how important a strong common platform is for the industry. In a time of political and economic upheaval, we need places like the German Wood Congress where challenges can be discussed and common perspectives developed.”

The congress kicked off with a special pre-event celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Bavarian State Forests (BaySF), emphasising the deep and symbiotic relationship between sustainable forest management and a robust timber value chain in the region.

The core theme dominating the two-day congress was the future of raw wood supply and the essential political framework conditions necessary to ensure the sector’s stability and growth.

• Securing Raw Materials: Despite a slight regional increase in prices for spruce and pine sawlogs in early 2025, the market remains tense. A weak domestic construction sector continues to dampen demand for construction timber. This makes the security of the roundwood supply a non-negotiable priority. Discussions focused on balancing the ecological need for forest adaptation against the economic need for consistent, predictable timber harvesting from sustainably managed, FSC-certified sources. Attendees explored strategies to mitigate the effects of climate-change-related damage, such as drought and bark beetle infestation, which have led to a decline in overall timber stocks.
• Political Dialogue: High-level political representation, including contributions from Bavarian Minister of State Hubert Aiwanger and Minister of State Michaela Kaniber, highlighted the strategic importance of the regional wood cluster. The political dialogue centered on aligning state and federal policies with the industry’s need for security and investment. A key area of debate was the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and national climate protection measures, with industry representatives arguing for pragmatic frameworks that support active forest management rather than hinder domestic production.

A significant portion of the congress was dedicated to strengthening the role of wood in Germany’s Climate Action Plan 2050 and the broader bioeconomy strategy. Wood is recognized as the most important renewable raw material, offering substantial carbon mitigation benefits:

1. Carbon Storage: Durable wood products—such as those used in modern Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) and mass timber construction—store carbon long-term, effectively removing it from the atmosphere.
2. Material Substitution: Using wood to replace energy-intensive, finite materials (like steel and concrete) significantly reduces embodied carbon emissions in the construction sector. Germany is poised to capitalise on the global growth trend in CLT, which is expected to expand annually, driven by demand for prefabricated, sustainable building solutions.

The congress emphasized the need to foster the Charter for Wood 2.0 initiative, promoting the efficient and sustainable use of the resource to maximise its positive climate impact and strengthen regional value creation in Germany’s rural areas.

Beyond political and supply chain challenges, the congress was a hub for technological innovation. Companies from across the entire value chain—from forestry equipment to advanced sawmilling and wood processing—showcased solutions designed to enhance resource efficiency and automation. The focus was on leveraging digitisation and AI to improve operational efficiency and product quality, reinforcing Germany’s position in the global forest products market.

The record-setting German Wood Congress 2025 concluded with a consensus that proactive dialogue between forestry, industry, and politics is vital. This collaboration is essential to transforming the sector’s current challenges into opportunities for a sustainable, climate-friendly future anchored by timber. The next chapter for this critical conversation will take place in Wiesbaden at the German Wood Congress 2026.

Read more news on: EUDR

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Tags: bioeconomy, German timber, German Wood Congress 2025, raw wood supply, sawmilling, sustainable forestry, Timber Industry, wood construction