2017 International Forest Industries Magazines IFI Aug Sept 2017 v2 | Page 15
LOGGING & BIOMASS NEWS
Report provides updated EU pellet data
A report recently filed with the USDA Foreign
Agricultural Service’s Global Agricultural
Information Network notes wood pellet
production in the European Union reached
approximately 14.8 million metric tons in 2016,
accounting for about half of global production
reports Biomass Magazine.
Although the EU is the world’s biggest pellet
producer, the report indicates that most of
the region’s pellet plants are small or medium
sized. In addition, most of the main pellet
producing countries within the EU have large
domestic markets for residential heating pellets.
Exceptions include Latvia, Estonia and Portugal,
with produce pellets primarily for export for use
in power plants.
Germany is the third largest pellet producer
in the world, after the U.S. and Canada. The
country currently has approximately 70 pellet
plants with a combined capacity of 3.5 million
metric tons per year. Most of the wood pellets
produced in Germany are used for heating.
Following Germany, the EU’s top pellet producers
include Latvia, Sweden, Austria and France.
While the EU produces approximately half of
the world’s wood pellets, it represents about 75
percent of the market. According to the report,
the EU consumed approximately 22.2 million
metric tons of wood pellets last year, with 65
percent of that volume used for heating and
35 percent for power. The U.K., Italy, Denmark,
Germany and Sweden are the top consumers of
pellets in the EU.
The report notes Italy is expected to be the
largest European market for residential pellet
use, with consumption expected to reach 5
million metric tons per year by 2020. Only 15
percent of demand, however, is met by domestic
production. The balance is met by increasing
imports. Italy currently sources pellets primarily
from Austria, Croatia and Germany.
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International Forest Industries | AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2017 13