Fuel wood in chips and particles market in Austria

Earlier Report Observations

The Austrian market for fuel wood in chips and particles saw considerable volatility from 2018 to 2024. Market volume began the period at 3.9 million tons before entering a three-year decline, bottoming at 3.0 million tons in 2021. A succession of warm winters was the primary driver, reducing heating demand and cutting full-load hours at biomass plants. Broader political challenges linked to the climate crisis and the pandemic added further downward pressure during these years.

This trend reversed sharply in 2022 when the energy crisis following Russia's invasion of Ukraine boosted demand for solid biofuels, lifting market volume to 3.2 million tons. Supply chain bottlenecks then constrained availability in 2023, causing a retreat to 3.0 million tons. The market surged by 35% to 4.0 million tons in 2024, a jump strongly supported by a regulatory change that introduced a preferential 13% VAT rate for sales of energy wood.

Alongside these shifts, the underlying demand base was strengthened by sustained growth in the installation of wood-fired heating systems. Sales of pellet burners, chip boilers, and combined systems recorded double-digit increases in multiple years, embedding a steady source of consumption within the residential and commercial heating sectors.

Production fuel wood in chips and particles in Austria

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Austria's production of fuel wood in chips and particles, measured in monetary terms, declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, output was valued at 194.2 million US dollars, marking a 9.4% decrease from the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 9.1%, which translates to an average annual decline of 3.1%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 242.3 million US dollars, with the largest increase that year of 13.4%. In contrast, the most significant drop occurred in 2019, when production decreased by 11.5%.

Annual dynamics of production in Austria in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Austria ranked 16th globally in the production of fuel wood in chips and particles.

Top producers of fuel wood in chips and particles, 2017-2020

World map of production of fuel wood in chips and particles, 2017-2020

Austria's production of fuel wood in chips and particles, measured in volume, increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 2,928 thousand tonnes, representing a 0.7% rise compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, however, overall production decreased by 11.3%, with a compound annual growth rate of -3.9%. The lowest volume was recorded in 2018 at 2,904 thousand tonnes, which also saw the largest decline of 12.1%.

Annual dynamics of production in Austria in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports fuel wood in chips and particles from Austria

Exports in kind, K t

In 2020, Austria exported 152 thousand tonnes of fuel wood in chips and particles, showing a strong increase of 11.0% from 2019. From 2017 to 2020, exports grew by 64.7%, with an average annual growth rate of 18.1%. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 4.8%, while the most significant increase was in 2018, when exports surged by 55.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Austria in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Between 2017 and 2020, Italy was the primary market for Austria's exports of fuel wood in chips and particles in volume terms, accounting for 79.3% of total exports. Other destinations made up a smaller portion of the export flow.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Austria in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

The market for Austria's exports of fuel wood in chips and particles, measured in value, experienced notable fluctuations from 2017 to 2020. In 2020, exports totaled 11,062 thousand US dollars, reflecting a modest contraction of 6.4% compared to 2019. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 12,740 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest increase of 98.6%. The most significant decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 7.2%. Overall, there was a two-fold variation between the peak in 2018 and the low in 2017.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Austria in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Italy remained the leading market for Austria's exports of fuel wood in chips and particles in value terms, holding a 72.7% share of total exports. The remaining volume was distributed among various other destinations.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Austria in value, 2017-2020

Imports fuel wood in chips and particles to Austria

Imports in kind, K t

Austria's imports of fuel wood in chips and particles, measured in volume, declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports amounted to 755 thousand tonnes, down by 10.0% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 31.4%, equating to an average annual decline of 11.8%. The highest volume was recorded in 2018 at 1,112 thousand tonnes, which also saw a slight increase of 1.1%. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 24.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Austria in kind, 2017-2020, K t

During the 2017-2020 period, three key markets—Germany, Slovakia, and Czechia—collectively accounted for 89.2% of Austria's total imports of fuel wood in chips and particles in volume terms.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Austria in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

Austria's imports of fuel wood in chips and particles, measured in value, fell for the second year in a row. In 2020, imports were valued at 50,656 thousand US dollars, indicating a substantial decrease of 15.5% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports declined by 34.9%, with a compound annual growth rate of -13.3%. The peak value was recorded in 2018 at 83,438 thousand US dollars, which also saw an increase of 7.2%. The most significant drop occurred in 2019, with a decline of 28.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Austria in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, three main markets—Germany, Slovakia, and Czechia—together absorbed 88.5% of Austria's total imports of fuel wood in chips and particles in value terms.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Austria in value, 2017-2020