Mills and merchants are ‘taking reckless advantage’ of the current wood shavings shortage and risk causing long-term damage to the sector, says the National Association of Woodshaving and Sawdust Merchants and Contractors (NAWSMAC).
The organisation hit out at those it says are ‘pursuing short-term gain by charging inflated prices and ignoring underlying market difficulties’.
Colin Grimes, NAWSMAC secretary-general, said the incredibly wet winter and the foot and mouth crisis rescued the industry ‘from the brink’.
He said: ‘Our industry cannot afford to lose the ground it regained in the agricultural sector last year based on the promise of sensible prices and stable supply. We are unlikely to be given another chance if we let those customers down.’
Mr Grimes said the future remained ‘uncertain’, with rising imports of cheap shavings, agriculture remaining depressed and livestock numbers significantly reduced.
A spokesperson for one of the largest mills in northern Scotland said he was unaware of a shortage or large price rises. He suspected the problem was more localised.
