Pellet prices in Ticino: price increases and winter purchases

Context

TL;DR

• PelleTicino reports an increase of approximately 5%.
• Thermocentro indicates prices approximately 10% higher.
• In October, the supplier reports 40 francs more per tonne.
• The recommendation: buy before winter.

Key facts

• Company → PelleTicino SA, based in Biasca
• Origin → local and 100% Ticino production
• PelleTicino increase → approximately 5% compared with last year
• Thermocentro increase → approximately 10% compared with last year
• October → approximately 40 francs more per tonne

The increase and its causes

In Biasca, PelleTicino SA is facing the heating season with a pellet price higher than last year's. Lorenzo Zanetti, co-founder and member of the Board of Directors, explains that for his company the increase is around 5%. The young company, specializing in the production of local, 100% Ticino wood pellets, is currently able to maintain a competitive price thanks to direct production.

The indications are not uniform, however. Zanetti reports that even higher increases can be found on the market. He puts diesel at the top of the list of causes, as its price has risen considerably. Transport affects the final price, especially when the pellets travel long distances. This is also why, he explains, importers end up offering such high prices per bag.

For those who need to stock up before winter, the forecast cannot be certain. The trend in the raw material nevertheless suggests further increases in the winter months. Zanetti's recommendation is therefore clear: «it is advisable to buy now». The current price charged by PelleTicino is communicated to customers without any guarantee that it will remain unchanged between December and March.

A similar picture emerges from S. Antonino, where Dario Previti heads Thermocentro Service SA. Previti confirms the increase and urges people not to create alarm: compared with last year, prices are currently approximately 10% higher. For October, the company's supplier indicated an increase of approximately 40 francs per tonne. Here too, the energy required for production and above all transport play a role, compounded by the sharp rise in diesel prices.

Between health insurance, petrol and galloping inflation, heating becomes another expense to consider for those keeping an eye on costo della vita in Svizzera before the cold weather arrives. The source reports that buying in summer tends to be more advantageous, while as demand increases the product may cost more. Thermocentro does not expect supply problems: Previti explains that its storage capacity allows it to guarantee supplies to its customers. Finally, there is an invitation to check the certifications, even when they entail a slightly higher expense, because they provide a certain calorific value and help preserve the health of the stove or boiler.

Operational details

How to read price signals

The comparison between the two companies requires care. The 5% reported by PelleTicino and the approximately 10% indicated for Thermocentro describe two separate figures: the source does not present them as a single increase to be added together. The unit of measurement also changes. The October figure is expressed in francs per tonne, while the assessment of cost-effectiveness compared with heating oil concerns the price per bag.

Price, transport and purchase period

The distinction between direct production and imports is decisive in understanding the final price. PelleTicino links its competitive price to direct production. For importers, on the other hand, long-distance transport affects the cost to the customer. When examining an offer, the figure should therefore be considered together with the origin of the pellets and the logistics component, without confusing the price per bag with that per tonne.

The calendar adds a second element. Summer is indicated as the period that tends to be most affordable; as the cold arrives, demand increases and the product may become more expensive. Anyone postponing the purchase should bear in mind that PelleTicino's current price is not guaranteed between December and March. The figure provided by Thermocentro's supplier for October offers a further signal of the possible increase in cost per tonne, not a certainty valid for every purchase.

The comparison with heating oil changes the way the price is viewed: according to the operator, pellets remain cost-effective even above 7 francs per bag. However, the source also encourages looking at certifications. Spending a little more may mean having a guarantee of a given calorific value and a product that helps preserve the health of the stove or boiler.

The reassurance regarding supplies concerns Thermocentro and its customers, thanks to the storage capacity stated by Previti. To compare the expected expenditure with monthly income, the comparison can be paired with a reading of busta paga svizzera, keeping the fuel price, purchase period and product characteristics separate.

Recommended tools

For an updated estimate, use the net salary calculator and the CHF-EUR exchange comparator.

Key points

How to organize the purchase

The information gathered makes it possible to carry out a concrete check before restocking. The periods to keep in mind are summer, October and the months between December and March: summer is described as a generally more convenient period, October is associated with the supplier's forecast, while for the colder months PelleTicino does not guarantee the current price.

Four checks before choosing

1. Act before the cold weather. If the pellet is needed for winter, the source indicates that buying in summer tends to cost less. Those who have not yet done so are encouraged to act in good time, without waiting for demand to rise during the colder months.

2. Ask which price applies today and read it as a snapshot, not as a promise for the entire season. PelleTicino communicates the current price to customers, but does not guarantee that it will remain unchanged between December and March. The figure of about 40 francs more per tonne indicated by the supplier for October should be kept separate from that price.

3. Compare the size of the offer. For bags, the reference reported by the source is pellet that is still convenient compared with heating oil even above 7 francs per bag. For supplies by the tonne, on the other hand, the expected increase indicated for October must be taken into account. In both cases, transport over long distances may affect the final price.

4. Check the certifications and the stated availability. Certification may cost a little more, but it provides guarantees regarding heating value and the condition of the stove or boiler. For Thermocentro, storage capacity is indicated as sufficient to guarantee supplies to customers.

Once these elements have been collected, keep the price, unit of sale, stated validity period and certification together. This way, the comparison remains clear even if the product changes price with the cold weather or if you switch from an importer to direct production. The source does not make it possible to predict prices with certainty, but it does make it possible to avoid two mistakes: postponing the purchase without considering the increase in demand and choosing based solely on the price, while ignoring transport and certifications.

To track the weight of this expense in costo della vita in Svizzera, compare the price of pellet with other recurring expenses. To relate heating expenses to monthly income, use calcolatore stipendio/imposte.

Source: tio.ch