The HPE price index for sawn timber and wood-based products for wooden packaging and palettes

The price index for sawn timber and wood-based products for wooden packaging and palettes is calculated by the Bundesverband Holzpackmittel – Paletten – Exportverpackung (HPE) e.V., the German professional association for wooden packaging and palettes in cooperation with Bonn University. The individual indices show the evolution of purchasing prices for sawn timber and wood-based products as used in the sector. They cover native supplies and those from abroad. The price indices and their evolution look as follows:

The analysis is carried out at the end of each quarter. It is based on a representative sample of HPE member firms who provide information on prices and price changes. The individual indicators cover prices and price developments for supply loads of the following material. All material is weighted equally within the index.

1. Price index: solid timber for palletes
   • Softwood boards 18 x 80 mm cut lengths (green)
   • Softwood boards 22 x 100 mm cut lengths (green)
   • Square soft wood lengths 80 x 80 mm (green)
   • Cut palette lengths 22 mm (green)
   • Cut palette lengths 18 mm (green)
2. Price index: solid timber for wooden packaging (crates and export packaging)
   • Softwood boards 18 mm narrow (dried)
   • Softwood boards 24 mm wide (dried)
   • Softwood boards 24 x 100 mm long (dried)
   • Softwood planks 40 mm long (green)
   • Square softwood lengths 100 x 120 mm long (green)
3. Price index: plywood for packaging uses
   • 5-ply 12,5 mm, CCX
   • 5-ply 9,5 mm, CCX
   • 7-ply 15 mm, CCX
4. Price index: OSB for packaging uses
   • OSB/3 12 mm

The calculation of these indices is supervised and audited by the Department of Statistics of the Institute for Social and Economic Sciences of Bonn University. Detailed information on the calculation of the price indices can be found in the annex.

Comments on the construction of price indices:

Sawn timber and wood-based products - size and product selection
Price indices for sawn timber and wood-based products for wooden packaging and palettes are established by Bundesverband Holzpackmittel – Paletten – Exportverpackung (HPE) e.V. (German Federal Association for wooden packaging, palettes and export packaging) in collaboration with Rheinische Friedrich – Wilhelms – Universität, Bonn, (Bonn University). The purpose of these price indices is to reflect in a representative manner the purchasing price trends for sawn timber and wood-based products as used in the wooden packaging, palettes and export packaging industry. All Member firms of HPE are asked once a quarter to fill in a written questionnaire. Information is requested about prices of 5 solid timber products for palettes and wooden packaging and of 3 plywood products as wel1 as 1 OSB quality. The sawn timber and wooden material products are standard supplies as purchased by the companies in the survey. The following products are part of the survey:

1. Price index: solid timber for palletes
   • softwood boards 18 x 80 mm cut lengths (green)
   • softwood boards 22 x 100 mm cut lengths (green)
   • square soft wood lengths 80 x 80 mm (green)
   • cut palette lengths 22 mm (green)
   • cut palette lengths 18 mm (green)
2. Price index: solid timber for wooden packaging (crates and export packaging)
   • softwood boards 18 mm narrow (dried)
   • softwood boards 24 mm wide (dried)
   • softwood boards 24 x 100 mm long (dried)
   • softwood planks 40 mm long (green)
   • square softwood lengths 100 x 120 mm long (green)
3. Price index: plywood for packaging uses
   • 5-ply 12,5 mm, CCX
   • 5-ply 9,5 mm, CCX
   • 7-ply 15 mm, CCX
4. Price index: OSB for packaging uses
   • OSB/3 12 mm