Market research

Wood pellets market in New Zealand, 2026

Release date: Mar 29, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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File format: docx, xlsx

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Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for wood pellets in New Zealand expanded from 75 265 t in 2018 to 77 370 t in 2023. Domestic production remained stable at 75 000 t annually, meaning the entire market growth was fueled by imports, which rose from 265 t in 2018 to 2 370 t in 2023.

In 2019, a planned doubling of production capacity at the Nature's Flame plant in Taupo to 85 000 t per year signaled significant industry investment and rising domestic demand for carbon-neutral fuel. Simultaneously, Azwood Energy's operation of a large plant utilizing over 1.2 million cubic meters of forestry residue annually to supply domestic, institutional, and industrial customers demonstrated the market's established demand base, which underpinned the steady increase in imports.

Imports of wood pellets surged to 58 477 t in 2025. This sharp increase corresponded with active demand from the Huntly thermal electricity plant, which was seeking a supply of black pellets, indicating a major shift in industrial fuel consumption patterns.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2025
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2025
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in New Zealand
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in New Zealand in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in New Zealand in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to New Zealand in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to New Zealand by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to New Zealand in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to New Zealand by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to New Zealand, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to New Zealand by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to New Zealand in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to New Zealand by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to New Zealand in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to New Zealand by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to New Zealand, 2018-2025, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to New Zealand by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/t
7. Trade balance
1. 7.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 7.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 7.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 7.2.2. In value, K $ US
8. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2025
1. 8.1. Direct Data
  1. 8.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 8.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 8.2. Mirror Data
  1. 8.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 8.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production wood pellets in New Zealand

In kind, 2018-2021, t

Top producers of wood pellets, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of wood pellets, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

In 2021, New Zealand produced 75,000 tonnes of wood pellets, showing minimal change from the previous year. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a 0.0% decrease, while the largest increase was also recorded in 2019 at 0.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in New Zealand in kind, 2018-2021, t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	-	-	-	-

Source: SHEV.io

Exports wood pellets from New Zealand

Desk research indicates that there were no exports of wood pellets from New Zealand between 2018 and 2021.

Imports wood pellets to New Zealand

Imports in kind, t

New Zealand's wood pellet imports grew for the third consecutive year. In 2021, imports reached 2,048 tonnes, a 35.0% increase compared to 2020. From 2018 to 2021, imports surged by 671.7%, translating to an annualized growth rate of 97.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to New Zealand in kind, 2018-2021, t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	113.5%	167.7%	35.0%	97.6%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, the import structure for wood pellets was heavily concentrated on the United States, which accounted for 88.0% of total imports, with other markets playing a much smaller role.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to New Zealand in kind, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

New Zealand's wood pellet imports by value also rose for the third year in a row. In 2021, imports totaled 376.2 thousand US dollars, marking a 36.5% year-over-year increase. Over the 2018-2021 period, imports grew by 675.7%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 98.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to New Zealand in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	115.1%	164.2%	36.5%	98.0%

Source: SHEV.io

During 2018-2021, the geographical distribution of imports by value was dominated by the United States, which held an 88.0% share of total flows, while other partners contributed relatively minor amounts.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to New Zealand in value, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io