Medium-sized sawmills in southern Germany were still not able to increase turnover in the final weeks of 2012. Numerous businesses accordingly claim to have closed out the 2012 financial year with losses. Many southern German sawmills have lost market shares for construction-timber ranges in 2012 in spite of the high level of orders in the German building industry, including among timber-construction companies. From the perspective of medium-sized businesses, the poor level of softwood-lumber exports resulted in too many large-scale businesses having to market their lumber ranges in Germany, and in so doing robbing medium-sized businesses of market shares. Even in cases in which sales volumes were maintained at least at the level seen in 2011, frequently lower year-on-year softwood-lumber prices and rising costs resulted in losses. Expenses incurred not only for fire insurance but also for equipment showed a sharp year-on-year increase in 2012.
