J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(8):430-439 | DOI: 10.17221/55/2026-JFS

Strategic asymmetry in a contractor-mediated forest biomass supply chain: Evidence from Central SlovakiaOriginal Paper

Lucia Kru¾licová ORCID..., Daniel Halaj ORCID...
Department of Forest Economics and Policy, Faculty of Forestry, Technical University in Zvolen, Zvolen, Slovakia

A reliable forest-biomass supply requires alignment among resource owners, processing contractors and energy users. This study examined governance and actor-specific strategic positions in a central Slovak chain comprising the state forest enterprise LESY SR, the contractor WorldWood and the Zvolen district-heating plant. Four management informants were interviewed using pre-tested semi-structured guides; the resulting factors were rated for impact (1–5) and importance (1–3), triangulated with documentary and operational evidence, and converted into weighted SWOT-TOWS coordinates. LESY SR (x = 16; y = –61) and the heating plant (x = 36; y = –26) occupied the strength-threat quadrant. WorldWood had a strong internal position (x = 57), but its external coordinate was boundary-sensitive: y ranged from –3 to 3 across the permitted importance weights for one corrected item. The chain was contractor-mediated and weakly integrated; principal system-level risks included seasonal mismatch, short-horizon tendering, price volatility, fuel-quality variability, and transport and storage costs. The contribution is to demonstrate that strategic asymmetry, rather than a lack of technical capacity, constrains coordination. Rolling volume forecasts, risk-sharing framework contracts, quality-based payment, regional inventory planning and interoperable traceability records are recommended. The study provides a replicable actor-level diagnostic for early-stage biomass-chain evidence.

Keywords: district heating; expert weighting; seasonal inventory; sustainability certification; tender procurement; TOWS analysis

Received: July 14, 2026; Revised: August 9, 2026; Accepted: August 10, 2026; Prepublished online: August 28, 2026; Published: August 31, 2026  Show citation

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Kru¾licová L, Halaj D. Strategic asymmetry in a contractor-mediated forest biomass supply chain: Evidence from Central Slovakia. Journal of Forest Science. 2026;72(8):430-439. doi: 10.17221/55/2026-JFS.
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