In January the store is empty, it is minus five degrees outside, and the price of the next pallet of wood briquettes feels like a small punishment. Anyone who only buys when they have to heat almost always pays extra. Timing often decides more about the price of fuel than brand or quantity. This guide shows when buying wood briquettes, wood pellets and firewood really pays off and what to watch in price trends.
Why timing matters so much when buying fuel
Fuels follow a clear annual rhythm. Demand rises as soon as the days get shorter, and with demand the price usually rises too. Anyone who buys in autumn and winter buys exactly when everyone else does. That is convenient but rarely cheap.
Then there is availability. In a cold winter, popular products can be temporarily sold out or delivery times can lengthen. Anyone who stocks up in time need not worry about either. The basic supply of warmth is secured before the first cold spell arrives.
The cheapest season: spring and summer
The rule of thumb: the best time to buy fuel is between spring and late summer. In these months demand is low, retailers' stores are full, and prices are usually at their annual low.
In concrete terms this means:
- April to June is often the cheapest period for wood briquettes and wood pellets, because the heating season is over and demand collapses.
- July and August are well suited for stocking up, as long as the store is dry and the goods can be housed properly.
- September is considered the last quiet month before prices pick up again with the first cool nights.
Anyone who buys in summer benefits twice. Prices are low and the choice is greatest. This is particularly worthwhile for wood briquettes, because the differences between hardwood and softwood can then be compared at leisure. At HEIZFUXX® the segmentation into RED for hardwood and BLUE for softwood helps you find the right product without a long search.
How prices develop over the year
Fuel price development is not an exact science, but a pattern is recognisable over the years. From October to February prices are highest by experience, because that is when most heating and buying happens. From March the situation eases, and over the summer prices often reach their low point.
Besides the season, other factors play a role:
- Raw material and energy costs directly affect the production of pellets and briquettes.
- A particularly cold winter empties the stores and can push up prices for the following season.
- Transport and packaging costs also feed into the final price.
These factors cannot be predicted, which is why serious price forecasts should be treated with caution. Only one thing is certain: the seasonal effect is there year after year, and it is the lever you as a buyer hold in your own hands.
Anyone who wants a feel for the fair price of wood pellets has a reliable reference point. The German Pellet Institute (DEPI) publishes the DEPI pellet price monthly, i.e. the average end-customer price in Germany for one tonne of ENplus A1 pellets. Not only a nationwide average for different purchase quantities is shown, but also a breakdown by region: north and east, centre and south. This lets you see at a glance how the price moves over the year and whether now is a good moment to buy. A look at the current values at www.depi.de is worthwhile before you order larger quantities.
Storing properly so early buying pays off
Buying early only helps if the fuel keeps its quality until winter. In storage, dryness is what matters most.
- Wood briquettes and pellets must be kept dry and protected from moisture, otherwise they swell and lose calorific value.
- Airy, covered storage works well as long as no rain and no floor moisture reach the goods.
- Firewood needs air to continue drying and should not be stored in airtight packaging.
Anyone who follows these few points has exactly the quality in the store in winter that they paid for in summer.
Conclusion: clever heating means buying early
The best time to buy fuel is almost always spring and summer. Then prices are low, the choice is wide and delivery times are short. Anyone who uses the seasonal effect and stores dry saves money and enters the cold season without stress.
A clever fox buys warmth when nobody is thinking about it and enjoys it when everyone needs it. Anyone who stocks up now has the peace of mind and quality that count in winter. Take a look at the HEIZFUXX® range and secure reliable fuels at the right time.
HEIZFUXX® · SIMPLE. CLEVER. HEATING.
Wood pellets, wood briquettes, firewood, kindling, peat briquettes and hard coal – by the bag at DIY stores, by the pallet online. Where to get HEIZFUXX®.