Firewood Prices Shift Across Retailers as Major Chains Adjusting Costs in October
Birch firewood prices vary significantly across Norwegian retailers following a market check published by vg.no in mid-October. While budget supplier jem & fix maintains a steady price of 68 kroner for a 40-liter bag containing 15 kilograms of birch, competitors such as Coop Obs and Byggmakker raised their prices to 79 kroner before adjusting following market pressure.
Retailer Price Fluctuations and Market Response
The mid-October price survey from vg.no showed standard 40-liter bags priced between 68 and 102 kroner. The initial low-end price of 68 kroner was offered by Coop Obs, Byggmakker, and jem & fix. A subsequent check revealed active pricing shifts over a two-week period among most suppliers.
jem & fix held its price at 68.00 kroner. Kennet Iversen, administrerende direktør i jem & fix Norge, stated that sales have increased considerably compared to the previous year, driven by electricity prices and growing brand recognition. Meanwhile, Coop Obs and Byggmakker increased prices to 79.00 kroner, representing a 16 percent rise that temporarily removed them from the lowest price tier.
The price increase prompted an immediate reaction from Coop. Harald Kristiansen, kommunikasjonsdirektør i Coop, stated that Obs Bygg must always remain the cheapest option and immediately lowered the price back to 68 kroner. Kristiansen noted that firewood prices have remained historically low this autumn and highly pressured, with occasional stockouts at warehouses in Eastern Norway prompting market adjustments.
Comparative Overview of 40-Liter Birch Firewood Prices
Retailer pricing for a 40-liter bag containing 15 kilograms of birch firewood ranges across the market, reflecting changes tracked by vg.no:
- eat & fix: 68.00 kroner (previously 68.00 kroner), featuring a maximum 18 percent moisture level.
- Note Build: 78.90 kroner (previously 68.00 kroner), featuring under 20 percent moisture.
- Byggmax: 78.95 kroner (previously 88.95 kroner), featuring 20 percent moisture and 29 cm log length.
- Construction partner: 79.00 kroner (previously 68.00 kroner), featuring maximum 18 percent moisture.
- Maxbo: 79.00 kroner (not included in the previous test), featuring 20 percent moisture.
- The builder: 79.00 kroner (previously 89.00 kroner), featuring maximum 20 percent moisture.
- Mount: 79.00 kroner (previously 87.00 kroner), featuring 20 percent moisture.
- Christmas: 79.90 kroner (previously 69.90 kroner), featuring 15 percent moisture.
- The joint purchase: 89.00 kroner (previously 89.00 kroner), produced in Finnskogen with maximum 18 percent moisture.
- The plantation: 89.00 kroner (previously 89.00 kroner), featuring 20 percent moisture.
- Euro price: 89.85 kroner (previously 89.85 kroner), calculated from 30-liter bags priced at 59.90 kroner.
Europris registered at the higher end of the comparative scale. Anneli Setalo, kommunikasjonssjef i Europris, explained that the chain only sells 30-liter bags and smaller packages, which inherently result in a higher volume price. Setalo noted that firewood functions primarily as a service product rather than a core inventory item for the chain.
Choosing Between 40-Liter Bags and Bulk Deliveries
Consumers generally choose between two primary methods for purchasing heating firewood. A 40-liter bag suits households with a fireplace or small stove used for occasional burning or supplemental heat on cold days. These standard-sized bags are widely available across building supply stores, general warehouses, and grocery outlets. While costlier per volume than bulk purchases, smaller bags fit limited storage spaces.
Households relying on wood-burning stoves as a primary heating source typically order bulk quantities or large sacks (storsekk) for winter heating. These deliveries can be picked up or transported directly to residential properties by local firewood suppliers, with prices varying locally based on quality and wood type.
Frequently Asked Questions About Firewood Pricing
What moisture content do retailers guarantee for bagged firewood?
Most major chains specify a moisture content between 15 and 20 percent for their 15-kilogram birch firewood bags, with suppliers like jem & fix and Felleskjøpet maintaining a maximum limit of 18 percent.
Why do 30-liter bags result in higher comparative costs?
Smaller packaging volumes, such as the 30-liter formats sold by Europris, naturally increase the calculated price per standardized 40-liter equivalent due to packaging and distribution overhead relative to total volume.
How do fluctuating electricity prices impact the firewood market?
Retail executives attribute rising consumer demand directly to elevated electricity costs, which have intensified market competition and caused frequent price adjustments among Norwegian building supply chains throughout the autumn season.