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The dwindling supply of French oak is causing the price of barrels to skyrocket. The amount of raw oak in France has halved to 1.25 million cubic metres in the past ten years. Overseas markets such as Australia, Chile or the USA are particularly affected by price increases at the moment, also because of the scarce transport capacities. The French government is striving to reduce all kinds of deliveries to countries outside the EU, since wood processing creates ten to twenty times more jobs than the export of raw wood. A law has recently come into force that requires half of the materials used in the construction of public buildings to be made of wood or other natural materials. And the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris are adding to the pressure of demand. Architects are also complaining that the price of oak has risen by 50 per cent since the beginning of the year. Wine lovers all over the world will therefore have to prepare for higher prices for future vintages.
(al / Source: drinksbusiness.com; Photo: Creative Commons)