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Construction site in Cologne (archive image): Timber as a price driver
Photo: A3508 Rolf Vennenbernd/ dpa
Construction prices in Germany are expected to rise again this year.
The association is expecting an increase of four percent, said the general manager of the Central Association of the German Construction Industry, Felix Pakleppa.
“That means things are calming down a bit, but prices are still rising.” It is not foreseeable that the level before the pandemic will be reached.
"And that's mainly due to the sharp rise in material prices." Last year, prices rose by six percent.
"That was the strongest increase in over 20 years."
By far the most expensive timber has increased in price.
Prices almost doubled in 2021, Pakleppa said.
“It was around 30 to 40 percent for plastic and insulating materials, and 70 percent for steel.” Since the turn of the year, construction timber has become somewhat cheaper.
"We are now up 89 percent compared to the pre-pandemic period, so it's still at a very high level."
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From the point of view of the central association, there are various reasons for this.
More damaged wood in Europe due to the bark beetle plague is one thing, the significant increase in demand last year after the slump due to the 2020 pandemic is another.
The US also imported more wood from Europe after US tariffs made Canadian wood significantly more expensive, Pakleppa said.
"As a result, many wooden houses in California were built with wood from Baden-Württemberg."
In addition, there would be inflation, energy prices and wage increases, added the head of the association.
The construction industry is in a balancing act.
"On the one hand, there is the goal in the coalition agreement that 400,000 new apartments are to be built per year and that apartments can be rented at affordable prices." On the other hand, there are ambitious goals in the areas of sustainability and climate change.
»Requirements like this also mean that construction becomes more expensive because we have to build with better energy efficiency.«
mike/dpa
