Global consumption of wood pellets has increased 2 million tons since 2000.

Europe presently consumes 8 million tons of wood pellets annually, a figure that is expected to rise to 25 million tons by 2020.

Non-industrial pellets are mostly sold to local markets, but the industrial pellet markets depend on the import of from outside the EU 27. The industrial pellet markets are relatively mature, compared to non-industrial ones, because of their advanced storage facilities and long-term price-setting.

Approximately 650 pellet plants produced more than 15 million tons of pellets in 2014 in Europe.

Total European consumption was about 9.8 million tons, of which some 9.2 million tons is within the EU-27, representing a modest 0.2% of Gross Energy Consumption (75 EJ level in 2008).

The prices of most pellet types are increasing.

Following our scenarios, additional 2020 demand for woody biomass varies from 105 million tons, based on market forecasts for pellets in the energy sector and a reference growth of the forest sector, to 305 million tons, based on maximum demand in energy and transport sectors and a rapid growth of the forest sector.

Additional supply of woody biomass may vary from 45 million tons from increased harvest levels to 400 million tones after the recovery of slash via altered forest management, the recovery of waste wood via recycling, and the establishment of woody energy plantations in the future. Any short-term shortages within the EU-27 may be bridged via imports from nearby regions such as North West Russia or overseas.