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EU Expects To See Rise In Pngtree
Wood Pellet Production And
Consumption
Wood pellet consumption in the European Union fell by 1.2
percent last year despite increased production. EU wood
pellet demand and production are both expected to increase
in 2024, according to Global Wood Trade Network.
Last year, EU wood pellet consumption fell by 1.2 percent
to 24.5 million metric tons (MMT), the first reduction since
2015, according to a report produced by the US Department
of Agriculture.
This drop was caused by a mild winter and a reduced
demand from the commercial power sector. Current low prices, Shutterstock
combined with government incentives, are forecast to support
the popularity of biomass for residential heating in 2024.
Demand for pellets by the industrial power sector is
anticipated to remain stagnant this year. As EU pellet production
is not keeping up with the growing demand, EU imports
into the US are projected to partially recover from the dip
reported in 2023.
A potential trade barrier is the EU Deforestation-free Supply
Chain Regulation (EUDR), added the report.
The document states that 20.8 million metric tons of wood
pellets were produced in 2023, which is up from 20.3 million Bioenergy Europe shows, according to the German Pellets
metric tons in 2022 and 19.361 million metric tons in 2021. Institute (DEPI).
It forecast production to increase to 21.2 million metric tons According to the report, 3.7 million tonnes of the climate-
this year. The report expects total EU wood pellet production friendly fuel left German plants last year, almost exclusively
capacity to be 27.5 million metric tons per year for 2024, a in the highest quality grade ENplus A1. Although 48.8 million
rise of 300,000 from the preceding year. tonnes were produced worldwide, only 13.7 million tonnes of
these were certified.
Germany remains top producer of premium pellets Germany consumed fewer pellets than it produced. It is
Around 27 percent of the premium pellets certified worldwide therefore still a net exporter. “Germany is a forest country and
in 2023 were produced in Germany. This is according to the therefore also a pellet country. We have a steady increase in
German Pellet Institute. wood,” explains DEPI Managing Director Martin Bentele. It is
German manufacturers lead by far in the production of obvious that the residues from the sawmill industry would be
premium pellets, as the annual Pellet Report published by used for climate-friendly wood heat.

