In the month of November, U.S. manufacturers demonstrated a robust output of approximately 870,000 tons of densified biomass fuels, as disclosed in the February edition of the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Monthly Densified Biomass Fuels Report. The report unveiled that sales of densified biomass fuel were equally impressive, totaling 790,000 tons during the same period.
The comprehensive report, compiled by the EIA, drew data from 76 actively operating manufacturers specializing in densified biomass fuel. Noteworthy is the omission of facilities with annual production capacities below 10,000 tons, as these establishments report data on an annual rather than monthly basis.
The 76 manufacturers surveyed for the month of November collectively boasted a substantial production capacity of 12.96 million tons per year, supported by a workforce equivalent to 2,472 full-time employees.
Key findings from the report indicate that respondents procured 1.7 million tons of raw biomass feedstock in November. This raw material was then transformed into 870,000 tons of densified biomass fuel, with 157,047 tons earmarked for heating pellets and 714,163 tons dedicated to utility pellets.
Notable trends in the market were observed in both domestic and international sales. Domestic sales of densified biomass fuel in November amounted to 117,710 tons, commanding an average price of $229.48 per ton. Simultaneously, exports reached an impressive 615,010 tons, with an average price of $189.23 per ton.
Inventory dynamics witnessed a shift in November, with premium/standard pellet inventories declining to 183,322 tons, down from 202,668 tons in October. Conversely, inventories of utility pellets expanded to 555,666 tons in November, up from 452,484 tons in the preceding month.
The comprehensive data provided by the EIA indicates that total U.S. densified biomass fuel capacity reached 13.04 million tons in November. Notably, all of this capacity is reported as currently operational or temporarily inactive. Regional breakdowns reveal 1.97 million tons in the East, 10.28 million tons in the South, and 794,200 tons in the West.