The fear of running out of stock and paying more encourages overstocking and then shortages. Does this rule, which has already had an effect on mustard or toilet paper, now also apply to pellets, these wood pellets intended to feed heaters?
For several months, the prices of this fuel, 85% produced in France, have risen steadily and the rises are endless. In one year, the price of a one-tonne pallet packed in a 15-kg bag has gone from about 300 euros to more than 600 or 700 euros. But we still have to find some. Most suppliers are out of stock and are delaying deliveries.
This situation is the result of the tensions caused by the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis and inflation. To protect themselves against sharp increases, users often ask for more and sooner than usual.
Homogenize rising prices
Producers, accustomed to selling their pellets gradually, face a strong one-off demand that they cannot meet as quickly with local production. These professionals, who produce 85% of the pellets, import at high prices to meet demand.
Éric Vial observes with regret that all the ingredients are there to achieve this situation. The more the demand increases, the rarer the product, the higher the prices and the more users try to stock up so as not to pay more and not run out of fuel in the middle of winter. The story of the snake that bites its tail.
Crisis takers?
But this sector is already accused of taking advantage of the crisis to increase its margins. In a post on LinkedIn, Éric Vial refutes this accusation.
The professional rejects any risk of scarcity, recalling that in addition to imports, there is also an increase in national production of 300 tons. In 2021, pellet consumption reached 2.4 million tons. By 2024, the sector expects to increase its capacity by one million tons.
A call to sobriety
To curb the increases and avoid an already noticeable shortage, Éric Vial asks consumers not to panic due to excess stocks and to adopt a more sober behavior regarding heating.
When changing to pellets, they usually raise their temperature between 2 and 4 degrees. A drop of 2 degrees and an extra sweater means 14% less fuel consumption. Throughout the year, several hundred euros are saved,” suggests Éric Vial.
Other representatives of the sector are opening more radical paths. In a press release quoted by the BatiActu site, the FF3C (federation of fuels and heating fuels) proposes that customers whose pellet is the only source of heating have priority. It also advises postponing stove or boiler installation projects so as not to further increase demand. Between 2020 and 2021, sales of pellet stoves increased by 41% and those of pellet boilers by 120%, with 180,000 and 32,000 pieces respectively.
Prices are likely to continue to rise further during this crisis. Will they return to 2020 levels? Eric Vial in doubt. “Prices never go down to the price they were before”, regrets the delegate.
Source: BFM TV
