According to figures from the Federal Statistical Office, timber harvesting in Germany fell by 6.4% in 2025 compared with the previous year, to around 57.3 million m³. This marks a continuation of the trend observed since 2022. Taking into account that the decline in felling due to forest damage was disproportionately high recently (around 54% compared to 2024), a more nuanced picture emerges. Felling adjusted for damaged timber stood at around 45 million m³ in 2025, the highest level since 2014. The main reason for the decline in total damaged timber harvesting was the significant drop in harvesting due to insect infestation – particularly by the bark beetle – which fell from around 17 million m³ in 2024 to approximately 8 million m³ in 2025. 

This is good news for the forestry sector, as planned felling has thus increased substantially, even though total felling has fallen. Whilst the supply of timber is declining – which can be problematic for processing businesses such as sawmills – the risk of oversupply is lower, provided the trend continues, which is also likely to lead to more stable prices. 

A breakdown of the figures, adjusted for the removal of damaged timber, by timber species group also shows that spruce timber – which is of particular importance to the construction industry – recorded strong growth again in 2025. Given that timber-based construction is steadily increasing in Germany, the security of supply and quality of the timber used in construction are becoming increasingly important.