KWF Forestry Machine Statistics 2024: Machine sales decreased in Germany

Since 2008, the Kuratorium für Waldarbeit und Forsttechnik (KWF) e. V. in Groß-Umstadt (Germany) has been collecting market data on sales of new forestry machinery in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In 2024, 268 special forestry machines were sold in Germany and reported for statistics, 70 fewer than in 2023. Sales in Germany in 2024 reached 72.2 % of the long-term average of 371 machines.

In 2024, 210 CTL machines (harvesters, forwarders) were sold, 16 % fewer than the long-term average of around 250 machines. The following table lists the figures broken down by machine type.

Table 1: Sales figures for 2024 by machine group compared to the previous year and, where available, to the long-term average.

Marked by the calamities caused by windthrow and, above all, by the bark beetle, a sharp increase in new purchases was recorded in 2019/2020. The increased machine capacity enabled a flexible response to the forestry situation. As has repeatedly been observed in the past, after such a brief peak, sales figures decline significantly in subsequent years, which also has been evident since 2021.

Since 2016, data on special forestry tractors, forestry tractors, and combination machines have also been recorded in the statistics; however, due to the low response rate, they are not included in the further analysis. Data on forwarding trailers has also been recorded since 2023.

It should be noted that since 2021, only the figures of actually delivered sales are included in the analysis; estimates in order to include missing reports from individual manufacturers into the  statistics are no longer made. Most manufacturers have provided information for the CTL sector. Particularly for combination tractors, special forestry tractors, and forestry tractors actual sales figures are expected to be somewhat higher.

Harvesters

80 % of the harvesters delivered in 2024 were 8-wheel machines, and 95 % were equipped with communication and positioning systems. Almost 5 % of the new machines were equipped with traction or synchronous winches. Most machines were delivered to Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and North Rhine-Westphalia, followed by Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Lower Saxony.

Forwarders

Almost all machines were delivered as 8-wheel machines, with tire widths of 700 mm or more for almost all of them. 10 % of the machines are equipped with traction winches. The payload for approximately half of the machines is 14 t or more, for a quarter it is less, and for another quarter no data is available. The crane reach of 80 % of the machines is between 9 and 10 m, while only 5 % offer a reach of over 10 m (no data is available for 15 %). In 2022/23, more than two-thirds of the machines sold still had a reach of over 10 m.

Forwarding trailers

Almost two-thirds of forwarding trailers had a payload of between 5 and 10 t in 2023; in 2024, this figure rose to almost 75 %. 8 % have a payload of less than 5 t, 3 % have a payload of over 10 t, and no data was reported for 15 %.

The reported figures for special forestry tractors and forestry tractors are too small to allow meaningful analysis. Starting next year, small forestry equipment carriers ("mini forestry tractors") will also be included in the machine statistics.

Thanks

The KWF expressly thanks all machine manufacturers, large machine dealers, and importers for their trust and good cooperation and looks forward to your continued support, acknowledging the considerable effort involved in providing the data by publishing it.

[1] Special forestry tractors are built for forestry purposes, often they have the same wheel size in front and rear and articulated frame steering.

[2] Forestry tractors are agricultural tractors (different wheel size in front and rear), additionally equipped for occasional forestry tasks.

[3] Combination tractors are capable to forward cut-to-length and tree length timber.