Non coniferous wood fuel market in Slovakia

Earlier Report Observations

In 2018, the state-owned enterprise LESY SR introduced a self-harvesting program for firewood at favorable prices, responding to increased household interest in wood fuel. The market volume reached 486 thousand m³. Over the following two years, the market contracted, declining to 303 thousand m³ in 2020.

Demand began recovering from 2021 onward. Heightened household interest in wood fuel, with many retaining solid-fuel boilers alongside gas systems, contributed to a market volume increase to 359 thousand m³. The 2022 energy crisis and fears over rising energy prices triggered panic buying and household stockpiling. Simultaneously, LESY SR significantly expanded the self-harvesting scheme, issuing 27 000 permits, which fueled a sharp market expansion to 483 thousand m³, accompanied by substantial price increases for wood.

In 2023, the market volume fell by 34% to 315 thousand m³ as households had already stockpiled fuel the previous year and warm weather delayed the start of the heating season. Prices returned to long-term average levels. Into 2024, measures promoting emission-free heat sources under the national recovery plan continued, alongside EU requirements ensuring legally harvested wood.

Production non coniferous wood fuel in Slovakia

In kind, 2017-2020, K m³

Top producers of non coniferous wood fuel, 2017-2020

World map of production of non coniferous wood fuel, 2017-2020

In 2020, Slovakia produced 264.7 thousand cubic meters of non-coniferous wood fuel, marking a 2.3% decrease from the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production declined by 3.1%, which translates to an average annual decrease of 1.1%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2018 at 261.5 thousand cubic meters. The most significant drop occurred in 2018 with a 4.3% decrease, while the largest increase was observed in 2019 with a 3.6% rise.

Annual dynamics of production in Slovakia in kind, 2017-2020, K m³

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

In 2020, the output of non-coniferous wood fuel in Slovakia was valued at 16 988 thousand US dollars, representing a 16.2% year-on-year decline. Over the 2017-2020 period, production decreased by 8.8%, with a compound annual growth rate of -3.0%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 16 825 thousand US dollars, while the highest value was in 2019 at 20 260 thousand US dollars. The most substantial increase occurred in 2019 with a 20.4% rise.

Annual dynamics of production in Slovakia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Exports non coniferous wood fuel from Slovakia

Exports in kind, K m³

In 2020, Slovakia exported 56.7 thousand cubic meters of non-coniferous wood fuel, showing a slight 0.7% increase compared to the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, exports decreased by 11%, averaging an annual decline of 3.8%. The lowest export volume was in 2019 at 56.3 thousand cubic meters, while the highest was in 2018 at 65.5 thousand cubic meters. The largest decline occurred in 2019 with a 14.0% drop, and the biggest increase was in 2018 with a 2.7% rise.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Slovakia in kind, 2017-2020, K m³

Between 2017 and 2020, Austria and Czechia were the primary buyers of non-coniferous wood fuel from Slovakia, together accounting for 81.0% of total exports in volume. The remaining exports were distributed among various other countries.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Slovakia in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

In 2020, Slovakia's exports of non-coniferous wood fuel amounted to 3 640 thousand US dollars, reflecting a significant 13.6% year-on-year decline. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 16.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of -5.7%. The largest increase was recorded in 2019 at 0.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Slovakia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, the key destinations for Slovakia's non-coniferous wood fuel exports in value terms were Austria (62.6% of export value), Czechia (17.1%), and Germany (8.5%). Together, these three countries accounted for 88.3% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Slovakia in value, 2017-2020

Imports non coniferous wood fuel to Slovakia

Imports in kind, K m³

Import levels showed considerable volatility during this period. The lowest import volume was in 2020 at 95.4 thousand cubic meters, which represented a sharp 57.0% drop from the previous year. The highest import volume was recorded in 2018 at 290.3 thousand cubic meters, creating a threefold difference between the peak and trough. The largest increase occurred in 2018 with a 118.3% rise.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Slovakia in kind, 2017-2020, K m³

During 2017-2020, three main markets—Poland, Ukraine, and Europe (not elsewhere specified)—together accounted for 89.1% of Slovakia's total imports of non-coniferous wood fuel in volume.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Slovakia in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

The import data reveals significant fluctuations, indicating a volatile market environment. The lowest import value was in 2020 at 5 692 thousand US dollars, marking a steep 53.4% reduction from the previous year. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 16 818 thousand US dollars, showing a threefold difference between the peak and trough. The largest increase occurred in 2018 with a 132.3% rise.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Slovakia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, the leading sources for Slovakia's imports of non-coniferous wood fuel in value terms were Poland (38.7% of import value), Ukraine (20.3%), and Europe (not elsewhere specified) (19.7%). Together, these three accounted for 78.7% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Slovakia in value, 2017-2020