The production output not only increased by around 6,000 t or 1% compared to the previous quarter (Q4 2023: 902,000 t). According to the German Pellets Institute (DEPI), it was also the first time on record that such a big quantity of wood pellets was produced in Germany in the first three months of a year. At 0.5%, the share of industrial pellets remains very low. Most of the produced pellets are ENplus A1-certified.
The share of bagged pellets dropped from 30% in the fourth quarter of 2023 to 20% in the first quarter of 2024. 15% of the produced wood pellets were exported, compared to 19% in the previous quarter. At 90%, sawmill by-products were the main raw material used for the production of pellets, while log wood only accounted for 10%. Softwood is the predominant raw material used for pellet production in Germany (99%).
In the Time line section of our Datacube, you can track the detailed development of German pellet production, demand and capacities.
