Wood Pellet Fuel Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Wood Pellet Fuel Market is projected to expand from USD 14.18 Billion in 2025 to USD 22.51 Billion by 2031, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 8.01%. Composed of compressed organic biomass residues such as sawdust, industrial wood waste, and forestry byproducts, wood pellet fuel offers a standardized, energy-dense renewable alternative to traditional energy sources. This market trajectory is primarily propelled by government-imposed decarbonization mandates that encourage the shift from fossil fuels to biomass within power generation and residential heating, alongside regulatory subsidies and tax incentives that reinforce demand and provide economic stability for industry stakeholders.

According to Bioenergy Europe, global wood pellet consumption surpassed 45 million tonnes for the first time in 2025. However, the market faces notable hurdles regarding raw material sustainability and certification compliance. Increasing environmental regulations related to forest management and carbon neutrality verification threaten to disrupt supply chains and elevate operational expenses, potentially hindering future growth as producers struggle to navigate complex regulatory environments to satisfy stringent international standards.

Market Drivers

The enforcement of favorable government policies and renewable energy subsidies acts as the primary accelerator for market growth, particularly in East Asia where nations are actively replacing coal with biomass. South Korea exemplifies this trend by employing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to encourage power generators to co-fire wood pellets, establishing a steady import demand regardless of price volatility. According to Bioenergy Insight, South Korea imported roughly 312,000 tonnes of wood pellets in June 2025 alone, demonstrating how utilities are driving substantial trade volumes to comply with these renewable standards.

A second critical driver is the widespread expansion of coal-to-biomass conversion projects within the power generation sector, which directly dictates the scale of industrial pellet manufacturing. Utilities throughout Europe and Asia are modifying existing thermal plants to utilize standardized utility-grade pellets, creating a massive supply chain requirement distinct from residential needs. This transition has led North American producers to focus on large-scale contracts; Biomass Magazine reported in April 2025 that U.S. production of utility-grade pellets reached 9.16 million metric tons in 2024, contributing to a resilient global production total of 48.3 million tonnes according to the 'Pellets Statistical Report 2025' by Bioenergy Europe.

Market Challenges

Strict requirements regarding raw material sustainability and certification compliance constitute the primary barrier to the growth of the Global Wood Pellet Fuel Market. As regulators implement more rigorous standards for forest management and carbon neutrality verification, producers encounter rising operational costs and significant administrative challenges. These compliance mandates necessitate the adoption of exhaustive feedstock tracking systems, which often delay production processes and restrict the volume of legally sourcable raw materials, thereby disrupting supply chains and slowing the industry's ability to scale operations swiftly.

The tangible effect of these constraints is reflected in recent production data, which indicates a stagnation in growth despite increasing market demand. Bioenergy Europe reported that global pellet production remained largely stable at 48.3 million tonnes in 2024, underscoring how the challenges in obtaining certified, sustainable fiber hinder manufacturers from expanding capacity to meet the decarbonization goals of the heating and power sectors. As a result, market potential is effectively limited by the availability of compliant raw materials rather than a lack of consumer interest.

Market Trends

The integration of Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) is fundamentally reshaping the market by transforming biomass from a carbon-neutral energy source into a carbon-negative climate solution. Major utilities are retrofitting existing biomass power stations with carbon capture technology to permanently sequester carbon dioxide, validating the long-term utility of wood pellets under strict net-zero regulations and allowing producers to generate revenue through carbon removal credits. Highlighted in a February 2025 article by The Guardian regarding Drax power plant, the UK government has agreed to a subsidy framework valued at approximately £500 million annually to support the deployment of this essential infrastructure after 2027.

Additionally, the commercialization of Torrefied Black Pellet Technology marks a significant product innovation aimed at resolving the logistical and storage challenges associated with traditional white pellets. By roasting biomass at high temperatures in low-oxygen environments, manufacturers produce hydrophobic "black pellets" with energy densities similar to coal, enabling outdoor storage without degradation and removing the need for costly silos at power plants. As reported by Biomass Magazine in February 2025, a newly commissioned facility in Thailand has successfully begun operations with an annual capacity of 75,000 metric tons, specifically engineered to replace fossil coal in heavy industrial applications.

Key Players Profiled in the Wood Pellet Fuel Market

• Wood Pellet Energy UK LTD.
• Drax Group PLC
• Enviva
• German Pellets GmbH
• Stora Enso Oyj
• Pacific BioEnergy
• Wood & Sons
• Land Energy Girvan Limited
• AS Graanul Invest
• Energex American Inc.
• An Viet Phat Group

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Wood Pellet Fuel Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Wood Pellet Fuel Market, by Feedstock:

• Forest Wood & Waste
• Agriculture Residue
• Others

Wood Pellet Fuel Market, by Heating Application:

• Free Standing Pellet Stove
• Pellet Stove Inserts
• Pellet Boilers

Wood Pellet Fuel Market, by Application:

• CHP/District Heating
• Power Plants
• Residential Heating
• Commercial Heating

Wood Pellet Fuel Market, by Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Wood Pellet Fuel Market.

Available Customization

The analyst offers customization according to your specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

This product will be delivered within 1-3 business days.