With 22% of world’s forestry on its territory, Russia owns abundance biomass resources to produce biofuel. The forests in Russia is about 542 million m3, which is about 40 percent of the Russian landmass. Every year large amount of wood waste are produced forest industry, which is an advantage to produce biomass products like wood pellets. However, the wood pellet industry did not develop as it should be.
Wood Pellets Manufacturing and Market in Russia
The development in Russia is slow and late. Russian wood pellet manufacturing took place only in the few decades about the beginning of the 21 century. In 2001, the first pellets plant was built in Russia with small production, and in the following three years about 6-7 wood pellet plants were built with the total wood pellet production not more than 15-25 thousand tons. Then in 2005 and 2006, wood pellet industry in Russia expanded quickly. In 2005, there were 28-30 wood pellets factory engaged in producing wood pellet production and in 2006, the figure increased to 60 with total production of 122 thousand tones of wood pellets. While in 2007, the wood pellet plant reduced in Russia, the wood pellet capacity still remained increasing. And in 2008, the number of wood pellets plant in Russia increased again reached 100 producers of wood pellets in Russia. Four years later, in 2012, wood pellets production in Russia reached one million tons for the first time.
Wood Pellets Consumption in Russia
At the beginning of the Russian wood pellet market, wood pellets in Russia were mainly produced for export. About 90% of its wood pellets were exported to Europe. Wood pellets were only used in private cottages for heating in the wood pellet burner. While since 2007, the domestic consumption in Russia increased. In 2007, about 5-15% wood pellets were used for domestic markets and in 2009, the domestic usage of wood pellets had increased to 15-30%. In 2012, the domestic usage of wood pellets production amounted to 150,000 tons per year. While with the new legislation on biofuel in Russia, the consumption in domestic market will absolutely increase in the next few years.
Wood Pellets Export in Russia
Most of the Russia wood pellets are exported to Western Europe. More than 50% of the pellets export are going through harbors in St.Petersburg. In 2011, Russian’s largest wood pellet producer VLK exported more than 220,000 tons of wood pellets to Europe. And in 2012, Russian exported 850,000 tons of wood pellets. And recently, the Russian wood pellets producers are planning to expand their market in more areas and countries like Japan, etc.
To sum up, high quality wood pellets will be always welcomed in the following years, and it will be a good choice to invest in Russian wood pellets plant. our company engaged in manufacturing verity scales of wood pellet mill and other wood pellet machines will be helpful whether you plan to producing large scale wood pellet plant design or just wood pellets for household usage.
