The price of pellets, the wood pellets used to heat stoves and boilers, has doubled or even tripled in one year.
Why ?
Inflation of course, but not only.
“It is the result of a general panic.
With the tensions on energies, people took fright and wanted to secure their supplies”, explains the general delegate of the national association of wood pellet heating professionals.
Could this sudden increase slow down some French people from equipping themselves?
Small deformed balls that are worth gold… For several months, the prices of wood pellets have literally soared.
"It's simple, I had bought my pallet for 265 euros per tonne in September 2021 and there, the same supplier is selling it for 850", testifies a father from the Metz region, in Moselle.
This sudden increase can be observed everywhere in France.
With often, a price multiplied by two or even three from one year to another.
"But not everyone is at 800 euros", nuance Eric Vial, the general delegate of Propellet, the national association of wood pellet heating professionals.
“The average price is around 550 euros per tonne, whereas it was more like 350 euros a year ago.
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Why such an increase?
The reasons are the same as for many other products: international tensions, inflation, rising energy prices... "Our production costs have risen sharply," confirms the specialist.
But he also links the phenomenon to consumer panic.
“It is the result of a general panic.
With the tensions on the energies, people took fright and wanted to secure their supplies.
Since March, depending on the month, demand has been two to six times greater than usual.
So we couldn't follow.
But there was no shortage and there still isn't,” insists Eric Vial, regretting that the industry has been singled out.
Until being accused of taking advantage of the economic situation to increase its profits.
Some households may have felt helpless in the face of soaring prices.
When they found these famous granules… This is not the case everywhere currently.
“No, we haven't had any since May,” explains a retailer in Alsace.
One of his colleagues from the same region has put his clients on a waiting list "since July".
“I have just received pallets but they are all reserved.
It starts at 700 euros per tonne, ”explains an employee, whose company imports the precious fuels.
"Pellets are not intended to replace all energies"
In France, 2.4 million tonnes were burned in 2021, 85% of which were produced on the territory.
“And we should reach 2.6 million in 2022”, continues Eric Vial, defending a sector “which is moving, which is developing.
The sector is at full speed and we are going to increase our production capacity by 300,000 tonnes this year, then as much in the following years.
We do our best but pellets are not intended to replace all energies.
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According to Propellet, "in 2020, 1.3 million French households were equipped with pellet heating, main or auxiliary" and this figure continues to increase.
Until when ?
Could those who would have liked to convert to it be put off by this price of pellets which varies so much?
“Obviously I didn't expect to have to pay 800 euros instead of 265 euros per ton,” grumbles our Moselle father, without however regretting his purchase.
“Our stove has many advantages.
It’s clean, practical, comfortable…”
"And very virtuous ecologically because we use a renewable resource", adds the general delegate of the national association of wood pellet heating professionals.
“Not to mention that it creates local employment.
“He does not want to believe in a future disenchantment of the French for the products he promotes.
“Especially those who have equipped themselves recently.
Given the investment (from 4,000 euros for an extra stove to 18,000 excluding aid for a boiler), they will not back down, ”adds a pellet seller, hoping that the price of fuels will return to suitable levels.
“When everyone has their stock, it will be better!
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“I ask consumers to be calm, patient and sober.
Two degrees less at home means 14% savings,” concludes Eric Vial.
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