Supplies of Nordmann Fir are likely to run tight this Christmas.
Roger Hay, secretary of the British Christmas Tree Growers' Association, said exchange rates will be affecting supplies. “There will be a shortage of Nordmann Fir this year mainly because there will be fewer imports,” he told freshinfo. “This is to do with the strength of the euro and the Danish krone against sterling, which means prices have effectively gone up 25 to 30 per cent year on year.”
Although there is UK production of Nordmann, domestic supplies are unlikely to be able to meet demand. And with consumers feeling the effects of the ongoing economic downturn, many are likely to be looking at cheaper varieties such as Norway Spruce or pines.
“Even the price of Nordmann Fir from the UK is likely to be five to 10 per cent up on last year because of rising costs of inputs,” said Hay. “We are already getting trade calls from people who can’t source the trees they need.”
However, at least production conditions in the UK have been good for Christmas trees this year. Hay said: “The rainy summer was good for the trees. First we had a lot of sun in May that really helped them get started and then the rain we had over the summer did them no harm at all.”
The picture is similar across the UK, with the main growing areas concentrated in East Anglia, the Welsh-English borders and north-east Scotland.
Plantings of Nordmann Fir have remained fairly static and it is still the preferred variety, as it has been over the past five years. Norway Spruce continues to be the second ranked type ahead of Fraser Fir and pines grown in the Scottish production belt.
No comments yet