A report recently filed with the USDA’s Global Agricultural Information Network addresses the Italian wood pellet market, noting Italy consumed 3.4 million tons of wood pellets last year. Italy’s use of wood pellets is expected to reach 3.3 million metric tons this year and 5 million metric tons in 2020.
According to the report, pellets in Italy are main used in small-scale private residential and industrial boilers for heating. Approximately 96 percent of Italian pellet consumption is a result of these heating sectors, with most pellets delivered via bags. Bulk pellet delivers with silo trucks is estimated at no more than 20,000 metric tons.
The report indicates only 20 percent of domestic pellet demand is met by domestic production, which reached only 350,000 metric tons last year. The remaining 80 percent of pellet demand is met with imports.
