Wood pellets market in Austria

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2022, the Austrian wood pellets market volume grew steadily from 901 thousand tonnes to 1 239 thousand tonnes. This expansion was primarily driven by state subsidies and tax incentives that boosted demand for pellet heating systems, reinforced in 2019 by a national market incentive program highlighting ecological advantages. The commissioning of large production facilities, such as Engie's 731 MW plant by the end of 2020, helped meet rising consumption, which was further accelerated in 2021 by an 8% increase in installed pellet heaters to approximately 200 000 units across Austria.

The war in Ukraine in 2022 triggered an energy crisis, leading to record-high pellet prices due to constrained raw material supplies and reduced sawdust output from the furniture industry. Despite these pressures, market volume reached 1 239 thousand tonnes that year. By 2023, prices began to normalize and the market stabilized at 1 218 thousand tonnes, supported by a long-term trend that saw the number of biomass heaters more than double over the preceding decade.

Production wood pellets in Austria

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Austria ranked 10th globally in wood pellets production between 2017 and 2020.

Top producers of wood pellets, 2017-2020

World map of production of wood pellets, 2017-2020

Austria's wood pellets production grew for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 1 540 K t of wood pellets, marking a modest 6.9% increase from 2019. From 2017 to 2020, production rose by 25.7%, averaging an annual growth rate of 7.9%.

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

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Austria's wood pellets production continued its upward trend for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the output was valued at 349.9 M $ US, reflecting a slight 2.4% rise compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production increased by 25.9%, with a compound annual growth rate of 8.0%.

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

Exports wood pellets from Austria

Exports in kind, K t

Austria's wood pellets exports expanded for the third straight year. In 2020, exports reached 849.3 K t, up 3.8% from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports grew by 26.5%, averaging an annual increase of 8.2%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Italy was the primary market for Austria's wood pellets exports, making up 88.1% of total exports in volume, while other destinations played a smaller role.

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, M $ US

Austria's wood pellets exports in value terms declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports totaled 192.9 M $ US, a slight 0.6% drop from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports increased by 26.7%, with an annualized growth rate of 8.2%. The peak value was recorded in 2018 at 202.8 M $ US, while the largest decrease occurred in 2019 at 4.3%. The most significant increase was in 2018, at 33.2%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Italy consistently represented 88.7% of Austria's total wood pellets exports in value, highlighting a strong focus on this market, with the remainder distributed among other countries.

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

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

Imports wood pellets to Austria

Imports in kind, K t

After two years of decline, Austria's wood pellets imports rebounded in volume. In 2020, imports amounted to 384.5 K t, a 13.9% increase year-over-year. From 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 4.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of -1.6%. The lowest volume was in 2019 at 337.5 K t, and the largest drop occurred in 2018 at 10.7%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the main sources for Austria's wood pellets imports in volume were Czechia (36.1%), Romania (34.1%), and Germany (22.5%), together accounting for 92.6% of total imports.

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, M $ US

In 2020, Austria's wood pellets imports in value terms rose to 68.0 M $ US, a gradual 4.9% increase from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports fell by 7.8%, with a compound annual growth rate of -2.7%. The lowest value was in 2019 at 64.8 M $ US, while the highest was in 2018 at 75.1 M $ US. The largest decline was in 2019 at 13.7%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Czechia (36.1%), Romania (31.1%), and Germany (24.9%) were the top sources for Austria's wood pellets imports in value, collectively making up 92.1% of total imports.

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

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