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Wood Pellets Market – By Feedstock, By Grade, By Pellet type, By Application & By End Use – Growth Forecast, 2026 – 2035

Report ID: GMI4387
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Published Date: December 2025
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Report Format: PDF

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Wood Pellets Market Size

The global wood pellets market was estimated at USD 11 billion in 2025. It is expected to grow from USD 11.5 billion in 2026 to USD 16.8 billion by 2035, at a CAGR of 4.3%, according to latest report published by Global Market Insights Inc.

Wood Pellets Market

  • The wood pellets market is growing as sectors are increasingly adopting biomass as a cleaner energy source, especially in their power generation and mass heating use. The utilities and manufacturers are using wood pellets as a substitute for fossil fuels due to the objective of operation to minimize carbon emission and comply with the environmental standards. There has also been an increase in the utilization of pellet systems in industries that consume a lot of energy like the pulp and paper industry, cement industry, and metal processing which require a uniform, standardized energy source with reduced particulate emissions.
     
  • Regulatory systems and government requirements that encourage the use of green materials and renewable energy continue to be the focus of market expansion. The direct use of wood pellets in electricity and in the production of heat is supported by policy tools like the Renewable Energy Directive of the European Union which mandates that a larger share of the total energy use is made up of renewables. These regulatory conditions can encourage the use of pellets by renewable energy requirements, subsidies and incentives that enable biomass fuels to be more competitive when compared to the conventional fossil fuels.
     
  • In addition to energy intensive applications, commercial industries, such as retail and FMCG industries are also becoming more sustainability conscious in their operational models, which affects the energy procurement strategies and indirectly promotes the demand of pellets. Businesses are integrating renewable energy resources into business sustainability goals with biomass pellets frequently being a component of larger business sustainability commitments to minimize Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions.
     
  • The integration of innovation in the quality of pellet products, handling, and supply chain integration is being brought on by trans-sectional focus on resource efficiency and environmental stewardship. The investment in quality standards, certification procedures, and logistics solutions will help to raise confidence in the market and contribute to the uptake in a variety of applications. With the growth in industries aligning their energy policy with regulatory and corporate sustainability frameworks, wood pellets are finding themselves in a place to be a transitional renewable energy that meets the demands of decarbonization on the demand side and at the same time also meets long term goals of environmental policies.

     

Wood Pellets Market Trends

  • There is an emphasis in the industry on high-end and special purpose 300 in terms of low-ash and high-calorific to the industrial and residential markets. Firms are differentiating products in accordance with the performance expectations and efficiency standards by getting past the simple commodity pellets. This trend improves value capture, pricing strategies, and overcoming the increasing demand of dependable fuel in energy-intensive application.
     
  • The process is becoming more efficient in production and logistics with adoption of automation, IoT monitoring and analytics powered by AI. Improved process visibility and predictive maintenance lower the cost of operations and downtime and allow producers to increase production without significant increases in labor or capital spending.
     
  • Traceability and sustainable sourcing practices are being fueled by increasing regulations. Certifications and chain-of-custody requirements are now part and parcel of acquiring contracts, especially in Europe and North America. Those producers who comply with these requirements have the advantage of the long-term supply contracts, high-price, and improvement of the market image.
     
  • Manufacturers are no longer relying on forest residues alone but are also utilizing agricultural residues and industrial by-products to reduce the supply risks and the cost. Investments in transport and storage infrastructures and port infrastructures are enhancing supply reliability and export capacities, especially to Europe and Asia, and competitiveness in the world markets is enhanced.
     

Wood Pellets Market Analysis

Wood Pellets Market Size, By Feedstock,  2022-2035 (USD Billion)

Based on feedstock, the wood pellets market is segmented into forest residues, agricultural residues, and recycled wood. Forest residues holds a significant share at a valuation of USD 7.7 billion in 2025.
 

  • The forest residues have the highest contribution under the wood pellets feedstock mix, and it is reinforced by their stable supply and their ability to match the large-scale pellet production demands. Sawmill by-products, logging residues, forest thinning, etc. contain stable quality, predictable moisture content, and good energy properties and can be processed efficiently and at low cost. The presence of well-developed forestry value chains in the North American and European regions also aid this segment by providing assuring sourcing and sustainability and traceability standards that the industrial and utility customers required.
     
  • Agricultural residues and recycled wood are also possible as supplementary feedstock, they help diversify the feedstock, but they have drawbacks in the form of supply variability and material uniformity. Agricultural residues may be seasonal, and they may need further processing or pre-treatment, whereas recycled wood needs very strict sorting to ensure compliance with the quality and emission requirements. This means that producers still focus on sourcing feedstock that enables them to maintain operational reliability, regulatory compliance and long-term supply contracts, which must reiterate the case in favor of forest-based input in the overall market sourcing strategies.
     

Based on grade, the wood pellets market is segmented into premium residential (A1), standard residential (A2), industrial grade, and others. Premium residential holds a significant share at a valuation of USD 4.3 billion in 2025.
 

  • The Premium Residential (A1) grade occupies the largest number of grades in the grade segmentation, and this is an indication of how much it fits in with the residential heating needs and regulatory quality requirements. The reason behind the widespread adoption of A1 pellets is that they possess high combustion efficiency, low ash production and a steady operation, which is important in automated pellet stoves and boilers. The demand in this grade is being maintained by increased investments in the energy-saving home heating systems and by pro-clean-energy policies throughout Europe and North America.
     
  • Other grades including standard residential (A2) and industrial grade serve higher tolerance of fuel variant requirements like the cost-sensitive residential use and large-scale industrial or power generation environment. Although these segments are still applicable, the adoption of the same is still affected by the pricing factor and operation flexibility but not performance optimization. With the increasing requirements by end users on operational reliability, appliance protection and emissions compliance, better quality pellet grades retain a stronger market presence in overall demand dynamics.
     

Based on pellet type, the wood pellets market is segmented into white pellets and black pellets. White pellets holds a significant share at a valuation of USD 9.7 billion in 2025.
 

  • The white pellets take the greater portion in the pellet type segmentation due to their popularity in residential heating and industrial energy use. These pellets are manufactured using untreated wood and are appreciated because they have a uniform quality, well-established supply chains and can be co-fired using existing pellet stoves, boilers and co-firing systems. Their wide acceptance in Europe and North America and established standards of quality remain the basis of consistent demand.
     
  • Black pellets continue to be in their infancy with regards to commercial adoption despite their appeal to better moisture resistance and increased energy density. The cost of production has risen, the scale of mass manufacture is less, and specialized processing technology is required which has curtailed wider adoption. This has led to the market demand still being skewed towards pellet types with known performance, cost effectiveness, and integration with existing biomass infrastructure, keeping the white pellets popular.
     

Based on application, the wood pellets market is segmented into heating, power generation, combined heat & power (CHP), and others. Power generation holds a significant share at a valuation of USD 4.5 billion in 2025.
 

  • Production of power is the most significant segment of the market due to the utilization of pellets as a renewable alternative to coal in large-scale power plants. Full coal-to-biomass and biomass co-firing, especially in Europe and some parts of Asia, have generated a persistent volume of demand of large quantities of pellets on a long-term supply contract. Pellet use in this application is still strengthened through policy frameworks that have enhanced renewable electricity production and reduction targets on carbon.
     
  • Heating and combined heat and power (CHP) applications are adding up, albeit in relatively small volumes because of their dispersed and location-specific quality. Residential and district heating systems would prefer high-quality pellet, and CHP plants would have efficiency benefits, but the total consumption of both is still less than that of central power generation. Therefore, the demand trends are still influenced by the energy demands in utility scale areas, in which scale, contract stability, and fuel substitution targets favor increased use of the pellets.
     
Wood Pellets Market Revenue Share, End Users, (2025)

Based on end users, the wood pellets market is segmented into residential / household, commercial establishments, power generation utilities, industrial manufacturing, district heating operators, agriculture & livestock, and food service & hospitality. Power generation utilities is estimated to grasp a value of USD 3.8 billion in 2025 and is expected to grow at 3.6% of CAGR during the forecast period.
 

 

  • The largest proportion of end-user segmentation in the market is Power Generation Utilities, which is fueled by the rising application of biomass pellets as a renewable substitute to coal in electricity generation at large scale. European, North American and some Asian utilities depend on long-term supply contracts to provide steady fuel supplies to co-firing as well as biomass-specific power plants to meet regulatory requirements of reducing carbon and achieving renewable energy generation. Consumption levels in this segment are also much higher than other end-user segments as they are continuously operating and of high volume.
     
  • The other end users like residential households, commercial establishments, industrial manufacturing, and district heating operators all play a role in market demand but at a relatively lower level. Although these segments are more careful about the quality of the pellets and compatibility with appliances, the volume consumed by them is lower and frequently depends on the local policies, infrastructure and heating preferences. This left the power generation utilities as the major impetus in the demand and volume-based market development in pellets.
     
U.S. Wood Pellets Market Size, 2022-2035 (USD Billion)

North America wood pellets market accounted for USD 1.8 billion in 2025 and is anticipated to show lucrative growth over the forecast period.
 

  • North America holds about 16.4% market share of the market in 2025 with high production capacity and high export volume, which is evident in the United States driving regional production. The U.S. is supplying most of the production in North America, a large share of the total volume, of the total volume of pellets produced in the region, capitalizing upon the rich forest resources, pre-established infrastructure in the manufacture of pellets, and well-developed logistics system to serve the European and Asian market.
     
  • Canada is the second largest contributor, as it enjoys the added advantage of a large forestry industry and a rising domestic use in residential and commercial heating. Growth in the region is further driven by the rising use of renewable biomass to heat households, co-firing in power production and government subsidies that encourage the use of renewable energy sources over traditional heating fuels and fossil fuels.
     

Europe wood pellets market accounted for USD 5.8 billion in 2025 and is anticipated to show lucrative growth over the forecast period.
 

  • Europe region has approximately 52.3% of market share in 2025 due to the long history of renewable energy requirements, carbon reduction targets and well-developed biomass infrastructure that facilitates production and consumption. The United Kingdom and Germany are the biggest consuming nations within the region, and historically, the UK has dominant total volume because of the high volumes of biomass co-firing in utility power, and the high levels of imports of pellets, whereas Germany has a strong base of residential heating and forestry resources that support an unwavering demand.
     
  • France and Italy are also playing a major role as they are backed by national renewable heating subsidies and growing the use of residential pellet burning stoves. The development in the region is based on the EU Renewable Energy Directive ambitions and the favorable government policies promoting the utilization of pellets in the district heating, combined heat and power (CHP) systems and residential heating systems, supporting the central role of Europe in global wood pellets value chain.
     

Asia Pacific wood pellets market accounted for USD 2.6 billion in 2025 and is anticipated to show lucrative growth over the forecast period.
 

  • Asia Pacific region comprises 23.9% market share in 2025, due to the fact that it is among the fastest growing segments due to the growing energy demand, decarbonization requirement, and the growing biomass power plants. The dominant consumer markets in the region are Japan and South Korea, and the biomass energy policies of renewable portfolio standards and renewable energy targets have greatly increased the imports and the use of wood pellets to generate power and heat industries.
     
  • China is also a major source of demand, with the push towards coal divergence and rural heating energy demand, whereby emerging economies in the Southeast Asia such as Vietnam are also growing output and consumption, both in domestic and export supply chains. The Asian Pacific region is in a strong position to develop its growth owing to deep governmental enthusiasm on biomass as a component of wider renewable energy plans, fast industrialization and growing use of renewable fuel in energy and heating markets.
     

Latin America wood pellets market accounted for 5.2% market share in 2025 and is anticipated to show steady growth over the forecast period.
 

  • Wood pellets industry in Latin America can be described as steady and consistent growth that reflects a significant share in the region due to the rich forestry resources and renewable energy schemes. Other major contributors include the countries of Brazil, Chile and Argentina, which use Brazil with its large plantations of eucalyptus and use it to aid in the domestic scale of production of their pellets as well as export volumes to Europe and Asia. The incentives provided by the government to encourage the use of renewable energy, carbon emission policies and investments in biomass infrastructure have promoted stable demand, especially in industrial applications, and heating systems in villages. Although it has logistics and certification-related issues, a sustainable growth pattern is supported by the introduction of new policy frameworks and the increase in production capacity in the region.
     

Middle East and Africa wood pellets market accounted for 2.2% market share in 2025 and is anticipated to show steady growth over the forecast period.
 

  • The Middle East and Africa market shows a moderate, yet stable growth, which can be attributed to the initial adoption of biomass and growing interest in biomass as a component of overall renewable energy. Development is boosted by the increasing investments on renewable energy in GCC, pilot and industrial heating developments in South Africa and other African regions which diversify the energy mixes out of the traditional fossil fuels. Even though the total capacity of production and consumption volumes are not as high as in Europe and North America, stable demand is being promoted by government incentives, pledges to reduce carbon emissions and slow growth of infrastructure base. The development of the market is quantitative and steady and is influenced not by blistering expansion but by planned policymaking and capacity building.
     

Wood Pellets Market Share

The competitive pattern in the global market of wood pellets is highly fragmented with five leading producers - Enviva Inc., Drax Group PLC, Graanul Invest, Segezha Group, and Lignetics Group holding about 28.1% market share in 2025. The high concentration of regional and mid-sized manufacturers does underscore the availability of a big number of global suppliers, especially in North America and Europe. Even though the large participants enjoy the advantages of scale, formal export systems and lengthy supply contracts, there is no dominant influence of a single company or small group of companies over the market.
 

In a bid to stay competitive in this fragmented environment, players in the market are focused on maximizing their capacity and selective expansions to enhance cost-efficiency and satisfy changing demand. Focus on sustainability certifications, traceability and adherence to stricter environmental standards is becoming more common as a way of enhancing customer confidence as well as gaining long-term contracts. Businesses are also investing in supply chain integration and supply logistics resiliency, especially in volumes linked to exports and are embracing process enhancements to stimulate product quality and operation reliability.
 

Wood Pellets Market Companies

Major players operating in wood pellets industry are:

  • Enviva Inc
  • Drax Group PLC
  • Graanul Invest
  • Lignetics Group
  • Segezha Group
  • Fram Fuels
  • Viridis Energy Inc.
  • Rentech Inc.
  • Wood & Energy
  • Buhler
  • Energex
  • Highland Pellets LLC
  • Pfeifer Group
     

Enviva is the largest industrial producer of wood pellets in the world and it is based in the United States and specializes in providing renewable bio-mass fuel to utilities and industrial clients all over the world. It has several U.S. Southeast regions of pellet manufacturing and most of its production is exported to Europe and Asia, which replaces fossil fuels like coal in the production of power and heat production. The pellets of Enviva are obtained with the help of sustainably managed forests and wood residuals, combining with a well-developed logistics system of rails and export terminals.
 

Drax Group is an energy company located in the UK and is vertically integrated in its biomass business to the extent that it produces wood pellets on a large scale and generates renewable energy. It has wood pellet plants in North America and operates with the help of the pellets to feed its biomass-converted power plants in the UK, contributing to the decarbonization goals. A strategic acquisition has provided Drax with an opportunity to increase its supply chain to improve the security of its feedstock and the ability to use biomass as a substitute for coal, which is low carbon.
 

Graanul Invest is headquartered in Estonia and is one of the largest manufacturers of wood pellets in Europe; it has a network of modern pellet factories in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and the United States. Its specialization is sustainable biomass and bioenergy systems where it provides both industrial and premium pellets as sources of energy and heating and the company uses combined heat and power (CHP) plants to facilitate its pellet business. The Graanul exports its pellets to a broad geographical area in Europe with good volumes of production and long-term contracts supporting the market presence. The company focuses on efficiency, innovation and sustainable use of forest resources in its work process.
 

Segezha Group is a large Russian timber conglomerate comprising of forestry, wood processing and biomass production, wood pellets made out of sawmill residues at various plants in Russia. Its production of pellets is used in domestic as well as some foreign markets and it is increasing its production in terms of its new plants and further exports particularly to the Asian markets. Vertical integration helps the company to achieve self-sufficiency in raw materials and stability in operations through vertical integration of forest management to finish products. The group is still expanding its bioenergy and value-added wood product range which includes pellet capacity.
 

Lignetics Group is a prominent U.S. manufacturer of residential wood pellets that has a vast range of premium wood pellet heating products and other uses in the home and have dozens of plants in North America. The company transforms wood residuals into renewable fuel pellets and diversified wood-based products, such as barbecue pellets and animal bedding, as well as other value-added services. Lignetics, which has a history of more than thirty years in the market, focuses on environmental sustainability and extensive distribution via national shopping and business outlets.
 

Wood Pellets Industry News

  • In October 2025, NNA Polymers said it would build a large polyacrylamide plant in Big Spring, Texas. The facility is intended to improve supply reliability in the region to treat water.
     
  • In September 2025, Black Rose industries increased its production capacity of polyacrylamide liquid in Jhagadia plant in Gujarat, India. The extra capacity will bolster domestic supply and will not overly rely on imported PAM grades to treat industrial and municipal water.
     
  • In March 2025, SNF floerger finished expansion of its Louisiana polyacrylamide plant. The enhanced line will focus on enhancing the availability of the products in wastewater treatment applications and bolster the demand of polymers in North America.
     

The wood pellets market research report includes in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecast in terms of revenue (USD Billion) & volume (Kilo Tons) from 2022 to 2035, for the following segments:

Market, By Feedstock

  • Forest residues
    • Softwood
    • Hardwood
    • Roundwood & pulpwood
  • Agricultural residues
  • Recycled wood

Market, By Grade

  • Premium (A1)
  • Standard (A2)
  • Industrial grade (B)
  • Others

Market, By Pellet types

  • White pellets
  • Black pellets

Market, By Application

  • Heating
  • Power generation
  • Combined Heat & Power (CHP)
  • Others

Market, By End use

  • Residential / Household
  • Commercial establishments
  • Power generation utilities
  • Industrial manufacturing
  • District heating operators
  • Agriculture & Livestock
  • Food Service & Hospitality

The above information is provided for the following regions and countries:

  • North America
    • U.S.
    • Canada
  • Europe
    • UK
    • Germany
    • France
    • Italy
    • Spain
    • Rest of Europe
  • Asia Pacific
    • China
    • India
    • Japan
    • South Korea
    • Australia
    • Rest of Asia Pacific 
  • Latin America
    • Brazil
    • Mexico
    • Argentina
    • Rest of Latin America 
  • MEA
    • UAE
    • Saudi Arabia
    • South Africa
    • Rest of Middle East and Africa

 

Authors: Kiran Pulidindi, Kunal Ahuja
Frequently Asked Question(FAQ) :
Who are the key players in the wood pellets market?
Major players include Enviva Inc., Drax Group PLC, Graanul Invest, Segezha Group, Lignetics Group, Fram Fuels, Viridis Energy Inc., Rentech Inc., Wood & Energy, Buhler, Energex, Highland Pellets LLC, and Pfeifer Group.
What are the upcoming trends in the wood pellets industry?
Key trends include automation and AI-driven production monitoring, sustainability certifications and traceability, expansion into industrial co-firing, and growing use of agricultural residues alongside forestry inputs.
Which region leads the wood pellets market?
Europe accounted for USD 5.8 billion in 2025, representing the largest regional share. Strong policy support, renewable energy targets, and widespread biomass adoption drive market dominance.
Which end-user segment generated the highest revenue in 2025?
Power generation utilities accounted for USD 3.8 billion in 2025 and are expected to grow at a 3.6% CAGR. Long-term fuel supply contracts and renewable energy mandates continue to support this leadership.
Which application segment leads the wood pellets market?
Power generation led the market with USD 4.5 billion in 2025. This dominance is driven by biomass co-firing initiatives and utility-scale decarbonization strategies.
What is the market share and size for white pellets in 2025?
White pellets held a valuation of USD 9.7 billion in 2025, dominating the pellet type segment due to established supply chains and strong compatibility with existing biomass systems.
What was the valuation of the premium residential (A1) grade segment in 2025?
Premium residential pellets generated USD 4.3 billion in 2025, supported by demand for clean-burning, high-efficiency residential heating solutions.
How much revenue did the forest residues feedstock segment generate in 2025?
Forest residues accounted for USD 7.7 billion in 2025, maintaining the largest share due to stable supply and compatibility with large-scale pellet production.
What is the market size of the wood pellets market in 2025?
The market size was estimated at USD 11 billion in 2025, reflecting steady expansion supported by rising renewable energy adoption.
What is the current wood pellets market size in 2026?
The market size is projected to reach USD 11.5 billion in 2026.
What is the projected value of the wood pellets market by 2035?
The global market is expected to reach USD 16.8 billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 4.3% from 2026 to 2035, driven by the transition toward biomass-based heating and power solutions.
Wood Pellets Market Scope
  • Wood Pellets Market Size
  • Wood Pellets Market Trends
  • Wood Pellets Market Analysis
  • Wood Pellets Market Share
Authors: Kiran Pulidindi, Kunal Ahuja
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Premium Report Details

Base Year: 2025

Companies covered: 13

Tables & Figures: 150

Countries covered: 22

Pages: 210

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