EIA: Densified biomass production reaches 570,000 tons in June

The U.S. Energy Information Administration has released the September edition of its Monthly Densified Biomass Fuel Report, reporting that data gathered from respondents indicates they purchased a combined 1.06 million tons of feedstock in June, produced 570,000 tons of densified biomass fuel, and sold 430,000 tons of densified biomass fuel.

According to the EIA, 88 operating manufacturers provided data for the monthly report. These manufacturers had a total production capacity of 11.92 million tons per year and collectively have an equivalent of 1,936 full-time employees.

The data gathered from the 88 respondents shows domestic sales of biomass reached 110,000 tons in June, with prices averaging $147.77 per ton. Exports for the month reached 440,000 tons, with prices averaging 128.45 per ton.

Production of heating pellets reached 117,765 tons in June, with utility pellet production reaching 452,765 tons.

According to the EIA, the U.S. currently has 11.71 million tons of annual densified fuel manufacturing capacity, including 11.99 million tons currently classified as operating or temporarily not in operation. Approximately 193,500 tons of annual capacity is currently estimated to be planned and/or under construction.

On a regional basis, the East currently has 2.41 million tons of capacity, with capacity in the South reaching 9.39 million tons and capacity in the West reaching 904,320 tons.