Wood fuel market in Trinidad and Tobago

Earlier Report Observations

The market for wood fuel in Trinidad and Tobago contracted steadily from 2018 to 2023, with total volume falling from 31 681 m³ to 30 526 m³. The closure of the country's sole oil refinery at Pointe-a-Pierre in November 2018 triggered a restructuring of the state energy sector, which may have influenced industrial and domestic fuel demand patterns during the period.

By 2024, government policy shifted toward renewable energy and local climate legislation, focusing on sustainable land use, deforestation control, and reforestation. These measures, along with ongoing work to develop a feed-in tariff framework for renewables, began to shape the regulatory environment for wood-based biomass and more efficient forms like wood pellets.

Production wood fuel in Trinidad and Tobago

In kind, 2017-2020, m³

Top producers of wood fuel, 2017-2020

World map of production of wood fuel, 2017-2020

Trinidad and Tobago's wood fuel production has declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 29 887 m³ of wood fuel, which represents a slight decrease of 0.9% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 2.8%, with an average annual decline of 0.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in Trinidad and Tobago in kind, 2017-2020, m³

Exports wood fuel from Trinidad and Tobago

Exports in kind, m³

The market for wood fuel exports from Trinidad and Tobago showed significant fluctuations during this period. In 2018, exports reached their highest point at 26 m³, but then dropped sharply to just 3 m³ in 2019, marking an 88.8% decline. By 2020, exports rebounded to 10 m³, which represents a dramatic year-on-year increase of 234.7%. The difference between the peak in 2018 and the low in 2019 was substantial, with exports in 2018 being 8.9 times higher than in 2019.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Trinidad and Tobago in kind, 2017-2020, m³

From 2017 to 2020, the key export partners for Trinidad and Tobago's wood fuel in volume terms were Grenada, Barbados, and Bunkers. Grenada accounted for 64.0% of exports, Barbados for 13.7%, and Bunkers for 12.2%. Together, these three partners represented 89.9% of total wood fuel exports from the country.

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

World map of product's exports from Trinidad and Tobago in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

The value of wood fuel exports from Trinidad and Tobago was highly volatile during these years. In 2017, exports were at their lowest, but they surged by 373.7% in 2018. However, in 2019, exports fell by 68.7%. By 2020, exports reached 26.5 thousand US dollars, showing a significant year-on-year increase of 251.5%. Overall, exports varied by a factor of 5.2 from the low in 2017 to the high in 2020.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, the main markets for Trinidad and Tobago's wood fuel exports in value terms were Barbados, Grenada, and Bunkers. Barbados led with 40.9% of exports, followed by Grenada at 29.1%, and Bunkers at 19.3%. Collectively, these three markets accounted for 89.3% of total export value.

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

World map of product's exports from Trinidad and Tobago in value, 2017-2020

Imports wood fuel to Trinidad and Tobago

Imports in kind, m³

In 2020, Trinidad and Tobago imported 1 338 m³ of wood fuel, which was an 8.4% decrease compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports declined by 2.4%, with an average annual reduction of 0.8%. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2018 at 1 248 m³, while the highest was in 2019 at 1 461 m³. Imports fell by 8.9% in 2018 but then increased by 17.1% in 2019.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Trinidad and Tobago in kind, 2017-2020, m³

From 2017 to 2020, Guyana was the dominant source for wood fuel imports to Trinidad and Tobago, accounting for 91.1% of total imports in volume terms. This made Guyana nearly the sole supplier during this period.

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

World map of product's imports to Trinidad and Tobago in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2020, Trinidad and Tobago's wood fuel imports were valued at 332.6 thousand US dollars, reflecting a moderate decrease of 3.4% from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports declined by 8.7%, with an average annual drop of 3.0%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 325.5 thousand US dollars, when imports fell by 10.7%. In contrast, imports increased by 5.8% in 2019.

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

Over the period from 2017 to 2020, Guyana remained the leading supplier of wood fuel to Trinidad and Tobago in value terms, holding a 74.8% share of total imports. The remaining imports were distributed among various other countries.

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

World map of product's imports to Trinidad and Tobago in value, 2017-2020