Alder BioInsights News Review: Feedstock Issue 156, March 2025
Caroline Randall
Marketing Manager
Foreword
This month’s foreword explores biomass trading, focusing on wood pellet markets in the UK and globally. According to initial estimates from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, 2014 marked a significant year for the UK, with wood pellet imports reaching 9.64 million metric tons.
Industrial energy consumption is expected to account for 93% of the total demand, with the remaining 7% split between commercial and residential usage. In 2023, the UK relied on the US for 73% of wood pellets, with other suppliers including Estonia, Latvia, Netherlands, Canada, and Brazil.Notably, Drax Group reported a 27% increase in biomass generation and wood pellet production, with a 5% increase in shipments and a 5% increase in wood pellet production.
Total US wood pellet exports for 2024 reached 10.0 million metric tons with a value of $1.86 billion. The UK was the top destination for exports last year at 7 million metric tons, followed by Japan at 1 million metric tons and the Netherlands at 0.7 metric tons.
Brazilian wood pellet exports increased in January this year, reaching just over 36,000 metric tons, largely driven by northwest Europe’s stronger biomass-fired generation. Belgium saw the largest increase, with 17,250 metric tons shipped…
Other News this Month Includes:
Policy
- UK: RTFO and SAF Mandate recognised verifiers
- COMMODITIES 2025: Biofuel policies seen boosting POME to top of feedstock price charts
- South Korea slashes forest biomass energy subsidies in major policy reform
Markets
- UK: North West companies unite to save sewers
- Eco Clarity expands FOG Recovery Hubs across UK
Research & Development
- Alternative feedstock for biobased plastics: Bridging the gap between research and the market (White Paper)
- Advances in lignocellulosicfeedstocks for bioenergy and bioproducts
Wood & Crop
- Drax and Pathway Energy agree heads of terms on sustainable biomass deal to supply new US SAF plant
- Drax Group reports 27% rise in biomass generation as wood pellet production climbs in full year 2024
Biorefinery
- Sustainable reindustrialisation: CBE JU’s bio-based impact on Europe’s industry
- Balrampur Chini lays foundation stone for India’s first PLA biopolymer manufacturing facility
- Nirani Sugars signs MoU with Karnataka government to establish Polylactic Acid (PLA) manufacturing unit in Bagalkot
