EIA releases pellet production, sales data for September

The U.S. Energy Information Administration has released the December edition of its Monthly Densified Biomass Fuel Report, announcing respondents reported producing 433,464 tons of utility pellets and 133,344 tons of heating pellets in September.

The EIA said it collected data from 88 operating manufacturers of densified biomass fuel in September. These manufacturers reported a combined production capacity of 11.92 million tons per year and had the equivalent of 2,030 full-time employees.

The report states the U.S. currently has a total of nearly 12.71 million tons of densified biomass fuel manufacturing capacity in place, including 2.41 million tons in the East, 9.39 million tons in the South, and 904,320 tons in the West. Of the 12.71 million tons of capacity, nearly 11.99 million tons is listed as currently operating or temporarily not in operation. An additional 163,500 tons is listed as under construction.

Facilities listed as under construction or planned include the 37,000-ton-per-year F.E. Wood & Sons-Natural Energy in Maine, the 4,500-ton-per-year Enginuity Worldwide LLC plant in Missouri, the 120,000-ton-per-year NWP Jasper LLC plant in Tennessee, and the 2,000-ton-per-year Mt. Taylor-WoodYouRecycle plant in New Mexico.

Domestic sales of biomass fuel reached 219,369 tons and averaged $156.45 per ton. Exports in September reached 489,020 tons and averaged $116.43 per ton.

Additional data is available on the EIA website.