W dniu 13 kwietnia 2021 miała miejsce wideokonferencja Zarządu Europejskiego Stowarzyszenia Plantatorów Choinek. Jak zwykle wymieniono informacje o sezonie 2020 w poszczególnych krajach. Najwięcej uwagi poświęcono jednak rosnącym kosztom produkcji i przewidywaniom cen na sezon 2021.
Poniżej przedstawiamy:
- Podsumowanie sezonu 2020 w Polsce przygotowane przez Zarząd naszego Stowarzyszenia (j.pol.)
- Sprawozdanie z konferencji - omówienie sytuacji w poszczególnych krajach (j. ang.)
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Polski rynek choinek jest dość zróżnicowany. Zależnie od jakości możemy mówić o:
- Drzewach słabej jakości - (unclasified, weak 3 class). Pomimo niskich oferowanych cen (nawet 3,50 € od firmy Green Team) – tymi choinkami w Polsce jest brak zainteresowania. Polscy producenci dorównują tu ceną i tej akurat choinki było na rynku w nadmiarze.
- Drzewach średniej i dobrej jakości (good 3-rd class, standard, standard plus). Tymi choinkami jest bardzo duże zainteresowanie. Jest to w chwili obecnej największy rynek. Klienci, którzy w latach wcześniejszych kupowali drzewa najtańsze i słabszej jakości są teraz zainteresowani drzewami w wyższej klasie. Są skłonni zapłacić za nie kwoty rzędu 9 - 12 €. W tym segmencie cenowym na szczególną uwagę zasługuje wzrost zainteresowanie drzewami z lokalnych plantacji. Klienci wybierają je coraz częściej pomimo, że za drzewa z importu (Dania i Niemcy) oferowane przez pośredników mogliby zapłacić o 2 – 3 € mniej. Drzewa oferowane przez pośredników w cenach 5,50 - 7,50 € są coraz niższej jakości i dojeżdżają na miejsce w słabej kondycji.
- Drzewach najwyższej jakości (1-st class). Polscy plantatorzy z roku na rok podnoszą swoje kwalifikacje i jakość produkowanych choinek. W przeciągu 20 lat doszliśmy do dużych umiejętności i na polach mamy coraz większy udział drzew w najwyższej jakości. Podaż tych drzew z roku na rok wzrasta. Niestety Polski konsument nie jest na tyle zamożny jak u naszych zachodnich sąsiadów. Oferowane ceny są na poziomie 15 – 19 €, podczas gdy ceny na pozostałych rynkach EU oscylują w granicach 20 - 23 €.
Przewidywania rynkowe na sezon 2021:
Produkcja. Zima przebiegła łagodnie. Brak jest szkód spowodowanych niskimi temperaturami. Obecna pogoda jest wręcz idealna. Umiarkowanie niskie temperatury i optymalny poziom opadów powinny przełożyć się na dobrą kondycję drzew.
Handel. Klienci hurtowi już próbują kontraktować drzewa na sezon zimowy 2021 po cenach z zeszłego sezonu przewidując znaczący wzrost cen. Z drugiej strony producentów dotknął wzrost cen niemal wszystkich materiałów oraz robocizny. Siatka do pakowania choinek, doniczki, folia i inne materiały z tworzyw sztucznych podrożały o 20 – 30 % , a stal (śruby, gwoździe) nawet o 50 - 60%. Wzrost kosztów pracowniczych związany jest głównie z COVID i koniecznością zapewnienia kwarantanny dla pracowników sezonowych. Aby utrzymać i tak już drastycznie niską rentowność na plantacjach, realne ceny sprzedaży choinek powinny w tym sezonie wzrosnąć od około 20% w przypadku drzew ciętych aż do około 30-40% w przypadku drzew doniczkowanych.
Inne tematy, które poruszyliśmy w trakcie wideokonferencji:
- Prowadzone przez nas plantacje to fabryki czystego tlenu i pochaniacze CO2. Powinniśmy lobbować w celu przekazywania na naszą rzecz części środków pochodzących z opłat wnoszonych przez elektrownie z tytułu emisji CO2.
- Pomimo że plantatorom nie należą się dopłaty bezpośrednie, to powinniśmy lobbować w celu jednoznacznego uznania uprawy choinek bożonarodzeniowych za produkcję rolną, podobnie jak szkółki roślin.
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CHRISTMAS TREE GROWER COUNCIL OF EUROPE MINUTES
Tuesday 13th April at 2pm (BST) via Zoom
Present:
President: Hans Alexandersen (UK)
Karl Schuster (Austria)
Ernould Didier (Belgium)
Saskia Blumel (Germany)
Claus Christensen (Denmark)
Martin Petersen (Denmark)
Marcin Klopocinski (Poland)
Hans van de Laar Kerstbomen (Netherlands)
Gorden Haaland (Norway)
Heidi Amundsen (Norway)
Attending:
Heather Parry (BCTGA)
Pippa Wild (BCTGA)
1. Apologies for absence
Franz Raith (Austria), Bernd Oelkers (Germany), Jonathan (Belgium), Roger Fichant (Belgium), Christy Kavanagh (Ireland), Doorothe Melvin (Ireland), Frédéric Naudet (France), Marie-Christine Grosche (France), Miroslav Kubu (Czech Republik) – emailed notes, Frantisek Valdman (Czech Republik), David Sokol (Czech Republik), Stefan Oberholzer (Switzerland)
2. Approval of the minutes of the last meeting
Minutes from the meeting held in Brussels, Belgium 6th February 2020 were unanimously approved.
3. Information exchange from member countries for Market and Prices during 2020
Hans Alexandersen (UK)
Good year for retailers, wholesale was not quite as strong in cut trees but good in potted trees. Overall demand for potted trees this year was higher. Once the UK growers got permission to open during Covid, consumers felt safe and confident choosing trees at plantations so this was the biggest growth area. Sales season started earlier than normal. Han’s retail sales up by 19% and sold everything marked up for wholesale. Quality of trees for next year is looking good. Estimated that export numbers were lower due to Covid and greater demand in the UK.
Heidi Amundsen (Norway)
Sales were good, higher than last year. Wholesale increased slightly but not as much as retail. Sales season started early, probably due to Covid and more people spending time at home and wanting outdoor activity to do. Choose and cut was very popular.
Claus Christensen (Denmark)
Good sales and early demand. Lots of new, younger first time buyers. Denmark were able to sell through whole retail season with no Covid restrictions. Export sales were lower due to buyers being cautious due to Covid restrictions. 70% of trees exported to UK, France, Czech Republic etc and at a similar level to previous years. Season was a bit stop start due to Covid and late starting due to lockdowns in other European countries.
Karl Schuster (Austria)
Sales were good, the season started early (mid November). Less large and pre decorated trees sold due to Hotels etc being closed. There were lockdown restrictions and country border control during wholesale harvest which lead to increased demand for cut and choose later in the season. 3- 4 % increase in real tree sales, 20% decrease in fake tree sales. There was an increase of consumers wanting to buy local and sourcing a tree within 4km of their home. 90% customers chose
to buy locally. Small and medium trees were more popular, some growers sold out so high demand for stock movement between growers.
Press coverage was good and all positive. Seasonal workers were able to come to Austria to work.
Average tree price of €31 which was similar to last year. Prices had to go up slightly, Association normally recommends €0.50 annual increase, some growers had not put prices up for a while made a larger increase – consumers accepted increase.
Hans van de Laar Kerstbomen (Netherlands)
Sales were good despite slightly shorter selling time due to shops having to close 17th December. Retail was up by 15%, increase demand for 2-2.5m trees, less demand for 3m+ trees as offices, shops etc closed due to Covid. Season started early (mid November). Quality of trees was good. Prices were similar, small increase of around €0.50. Cut and Choose was very popular as were Nordmann’s and Omorika.
Saskia Blumel (Germany)
Unsure how the season was going to be due to Covid but it was good and the season started early. Some customers purchased 2 trees, 1 in November and 1 before Christmas. Prices increased slightly by around €1 per tree. Overall market is stabilising. Survey completed by 60% of members showed a good season with 15% increase in sales. Consumers were happy with the quality and 90% would buy again. Due to Covid, stores had to close 2 weeks before Christmas so there was some reduced stock on the market.
Marketing – educate customers on the real tree industry and to understand why it isn’t bad to cut Christmas trees.
Marcin Klopocinski (Poland)
Good season with most members selling through their trees. Good weather through harvest and the trees were a good quality this year. Wholesale price saw a small increase of €1-€2, retail of €4-€5. Customers were more interested in where trees had been grown this year, wanting to buy local and happy to spend a bit more for this. Sales of Standard and Standard+ trees increased. There is a steadily increasing demand for better quality trees on the wholesale market, prices from €9 – €12.
There were some issues with Overseas Seasonal Workers and the need to quarantine increased labour costs for producers, this led to an increase in retail tree price.
Ernould Didier (Belgium)
Not a very good season, sell a lot of trees to France but Brexit and Covid made this difficult. Price was the same but cost to produce was more, so worse margins. Retail is a small market for Belgium.
Miroslav Kubu (Czech Republik)
Comments provided by email - The prices and the amount of sold trees were in the Czech Republic the same in 2020 in comparison with 2019. There were no problems with sales in December due to Covid.
4. Market outlook for 2021
Heidi Amundsen (Norway)
Hope to keep new customers gained in 2020, expecting another good season. Will be looking to import to meet demand.
Claus Christensen (Denmark)
Danish supply decreasing slightly. Smaller trees are easier to sell, doesn’t expect there to be the excess in the trees that they have seen in previous years. Need to find a solution to plastic netting, corn starch is 3 x price of plastic netting.
Karl Schuster (Austria)
Market is stable, expected to remain constant. Growers have increased prices slightly over the last couple of years which has been received well.
Hans Alexandersen (UK)
Price will depend on supply and demand. Supply in UK could be decreasing slightly so will still need to import.
Marcin Klopocinski (Poland)
Production - Winter was mild. There is no damage caused by low temperatures. The current weather is just perfect. Moderately low temperatures and optimal rainfall levels contribute to the good condition of trees.
Trade - Wholesale customers are already trying to contract trees for 2021 at 2020 prices. Anticipating a significant increase in prices as producers were affected by increased prices of materials and labour eg plastic 30% increase, steel 60% increase, fertiliser 20% increase.
In order to keep the profit on plantations, wholesale prices of Christmas trees should increase this season from about 20% for cut trees to about 30-40% for potted trees.
Hans van de Laar Kerstbomen (Netherlands)
Expecting small increase in home grown sales. Slight increase last year and expect the same this year.
Saskia Blumel (Germany)
Predicting another good season. The issue is mainly the wholesale market as they dictate the price. Expect an increase of €1 pr tree.
Ernould Didier (Belgium)
Hoping for a price increase, there is a lot of competition though so might not manage it.
Gorden Haaland (Norway)
Believes that cut and choose will continue to grow and is optimistic that the tree will be good next season.
5. Identify any issues in growing Christmas trees
Hans Alexandersen (UK)
We need to consider biodiversity and sustainability, reduce chemical use and think alternatively. We sell a natural product and should use as natural methods as possible.
Marcin Klopocinski (Poland)
Need to be clear to customers, correct labelling and information.
Saskia Blumel (Germany)
Need to make the public more aware of the eco friendly aspects of the industry.
Martin Petersen (Denmark)
We must not cheat our customers, we need to be honest in labelling, especially if the trees are imported. Importing is not a problem as long as we are honest about it. We must tell customers hat we do, explain our job and that we are good for the environment.
Karl Schuster (Austria)
Experienced suing a company for selling incorrectly labeled trees, very expensive to go to court and really hard without concrete proof, which is difficult to get. Should do a positive P.R programme for Europe, similar to Americans a few years ago.
General debate covered:
Start lobbying power stations for CO2 emissions and ask for some of their levy as trees are CO2 absorbers.
The best we can say we are neutral in environmental terms. It was agreed that members would not support a European wide P.R campaign.
6. Summer Meeting 2021 and 2022
Gorden Haaland (Norway) showed a presentation on the plans so far for the summer meeting in Norway. It was agreed that as June would be the best time of year to hold the meeting and due the uncertainty of Covid travel restrictions this summer, the meeting would be postponed for 2021.
The Summer Meeting will be held in Norway June 2022. Suggested dates were 21 – 24 June.
The meeting thanked Gorden for all his work on this and look forward to attending in 2022.
7. Finance and budget
It was discussed whether members should pay for 2021 but was decided that membership should go ahead. Saskia Blumel (Germany) confirmed she would send out the 2021 invoices to members this week.
There is currently just over €20,000 in the account, SB will send financial overview after 2021 memberships received.
8. Any other business
All CTGCE members to email 2021 event dates for their Country through to Claus Christensen info@christmastree.dk so he can update the website.
Another CTGCE meeting to be held this summer via Zoom.
It was agreed that the BCTGA would continue the Presidency until mid 2022