Report: Canadian wood pellet production, exports up in 2019

A report recently filed with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service’s Global Agricultural Information Network predicts Canadian wood pellet production will increase this year. Domestic use and exports are also expected to be up.

According to the report, wood pellet production in Canada has achieved linear growth averaging 12 percent annual increases from 2013 through 2018. Production is expected to reach 3.3 million metric tons this year, up from 3.1 million metric tons in 2018 and 2.7 million metric tons in 2017.

The report indicates Canada had 45 pellet plants in place last year with an estimated nameplate capacity of 4.657 million metric tons. The number of pellet plants and total nameplate capacity are expected to remain stable in 2019. Capacity use, however, is expected to increase, reaching 70.09 percent this year, up from 66.6 percent in 2018 and 63.1 percent in 2017.

Canada exported an estimated 2.651 million metric tons of wood pellets last year, up from 2.172 million metric tons in 2017. Exports are expected to increase again this year, reaching 2.9 million metric tons.

Domestic consumption of pellets reached 315,000 metric tons last year, up from 284,000 tons in 2017. Consumption is expected to reach 380,000 metric tons this year.

A full copy of the report can be downloaded from the USDA FAS GAIN website.