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Christmas tree sellers in Lower Saxony (archive image)
Photo: Carmen Jaspersen / dpa
Christmas trees are likely to get more expensive this year.
According to the Federal Association of Christmas Tree Manufacturers, the reason is higher costs due to the coronavirus pandemic.
For the popular Nordmann firs with the best quality, between 20 and 27 euros should be due, said managing director Martin Rometsch.
Last year, the price range was 18 to 23 euros.
The dealers would have to create hygiene concepts, reserve more space and possibly use more staff, it said.
In large cities, prices are usually higher than in rural areas.
Rometsch reckons with 12 to 16 euros per meter for blue fir and 9 and 12 euros per meter for spruce.
The market share of the Nordmann fir, which is preferred because of its soft and tight needles, is 75 to 80 percent.
There is enough offer.
"We have good qualities," said Rometsch.
"The fear that everything will escalate even more is there"
Martin Rometsch, Managing Director of the Federal Association of Christmas Tree Manufacturers
The managing director is hoping for stable sales of 20 to 22 million Christmas trees this year in Germany.
But the industry is insecure.
It is to be expected that there will be less demand for decorative trees, for example because of canceled Christmas markets.
"The fear is that less will take place in the commercial and public areas."
The hope, however, is that people want to make themselves particularly comfortable at home during the crisis - and therefore buy a tree sooner than usual.
"There is fear that everything will escalate even more," said Rometsch.
African swine fever is also causing great concern for many companies.
According to Rometsch, producers can no longer market their Christmas trees where restricted areas are set up.
"If a company is in the restricted area, it stays in its trees."
No products may be brought out.
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wit / dpa
