Wood pellet prices in Serbia have reached a record €350 per tonne as households prepare for the winter heating season, with demand significantly exceeding domestic production capacity, Bioenergy Insight reported.
Prices have risen sharply over the past year. Pellets sold for around €230 per tonne in June 2025, rising to €320 in June 2026 and reaching €350 by late August. This represents an increase of about 52% in 12 months.
Retail prices currently range between 38,000 and 47,000 dinars (€320–€400) per tonne, depending on location and supplier. Belgrade and Novi Sad have some of the highest prices, at around 42,000–44,000 dinars per tonne, while prices in Niš and Kragujevac range from 36,700 to 42,000 dinars.
Domestic pellet manufacturers are reportedly operating at full capacity but remain unable to meet market demand.
Branko Glavonjić, professor at Belgrade’s Faculty of Forestry, said current demand is around three times domestic production. Supply concerns have also prompted consumers to purchase pellets earlier than usual, with many households stocking up during July and August instead of waiting until October.
The behaviour reflects shortages experienced during the previous heating season and has raised calls for possible government intervention, although no formal measures or implementation timeline have been announced.
Firewood continues to be less expensive than pellets on a basic fuel-cost comparison. Common hardwoods such as beech, oak, black locust, Turkey oak and hornbeam are selling for around 6,500–12,000 dinars per cubic metre, while some premium supplies cost more.
Since August, suppliers have increased split-firewood prices by around 500–700 dinars per cubic metre.
However, pellets offer advantages including automated feeding, lower ash generation and reduced maintenance requirements. Vera Raznatović of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce’s Energy and Mining Association said these benefits can justify the higher cost for some households.
The Energy Agency of Serbia has also found that households purchasing wood at favourable prices and using efficient stoves achieved some of the lowest seasonal heating costs among the fuels assessed.
Consumers are increasingly advised to check pellet certification before buying. Serbia’s Rulebook on Technical Requirements for Solid Fuels from Wood Biomass, effective since October 2025, requires domestic and imported producers to declare fuel-quality specifications before entering the market.
Lower-quality pellets can contain excessive ash and moisture, potentially damaging feeding systems and heating equipment. Jugoinspekt publishes a list of certified manufacturers.
Summer purchases can typically save consumers around €30–€40 per tonne compared with winter prices. Whether the current record levels continue into the heating season will depend largely on manufacturers’ ability to clear delivery backlogs and increase production.
