Wood Fuel Market

The wood fuel market is projected to see growth in both volume and value terms from 2022-2030, with Italy, Ukraine, and Bulgaria being the top consuming countries. Swaziland, Croatia, and South Africa are key exporters of wood fuel. The average export price saw a significant increase in 2022, with noticeable fluctuations in the trend pattern over the years.

Market Forecast

Driven by increasing demand for wood fuel worldwide, the market is expected to continue an upward consumption trend over the next eight-year period. Market performance is forecast to accelerate, expanding with an anticipated CAGR of +2.4% for the period from 2022 to 2030, which is projected to bring the market volume to 19M cubic meters by the end of 2030.

In value terms, the market is forecast to increase with an anticipated CAGR of +4.2% for the period from 2022 to 2030, which is projected to bring the market value to $1.5B (in nominal prices) by the end of 2030.

Consumption

World Consumption of Wood Fuel

Global wood fuel consumption soared to 16M cubic meters in 2022, with an increase of 20% against the year before. Over the period under review, consumption recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. As a result, consumption attained the peak volume and is likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

The global wood fuel market value soared to $1.1B in 2022, jumping by 31% against the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers' margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). In general, the total consumption indicated a modest increase from 2012 to 2022: its value increased at an average annual rate of +1.9% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, consumption increased by +36.9% against 2020 indices. As a result, consumption reached the peak level and is likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

Consumption By Country

The countries with the highest volumes of consumption in 2022 were Italy (3.3M cubic meters), Ukraine (2.5M cubic meters) and Bulgaria (900K cubic meters), with a combined 43% share of global consumption. South Africa, Slovenia, Croatia, Slovakia, Spain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Swaziland, Estonia, the UK and Hungary lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 31%.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of consumption, amongst the main consuming countries, was attained by Hungary (with a CAGR of +33.8%), while consumption for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, Italy ($228M), Ukraine ($115M) and the UK ($85M) were the countries with the highest levels of market value in 2022, together accounting for 40% of the global market. Slovenia, Bulgaria, Spain, Estonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovakia, Croatia, South Africa, Hungary and Swaziland lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 24%.

Hungary, with a CAGR of +36.9%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to market size in terms of the main consuming countries over the period under review, while market for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

The countries with the highest levels of wood fuel per capita consumption in 2022 were Slovenia (330 cubic meters per 1000 persons), Swaziland (321 cubic meters per 1000 persons) and Estonia (287 cubic meters per 1000 persons).

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of consumption, amongst the key consuming countries, was attained by Hungary (with a CAGR of +34.1%), while consumption for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Production

World Production of Wood Fuel

In 2022, production of wood fuel increased by 0.7% to 16M cubic meters, rising for the fourth consecutive year after three years of decline. In general, production, however, showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2015 with an increase of 0.7% against the previous year. Global production peaked at 17M cubic meters in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2022, production remained at a lower figure.

In value terms, wood fuel production contracted slightly to $905M in 2022 estimated in export price. Over the period under review, production showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 with an increase of 14% against the previous year. Global production peaked at $945M in 2021, and then dropped in the following year.

Production By Country

The country with the largest volume of wood fuel production was Ukraine (3M cubic meters), accounting for 19% of total volume. Moreover, wood fuel production in Ukraine exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest producer, Croatia (1.4M cubic meters), twofold. The third position in this ranking was taken by Bosnia and Herzegovina (1.3M cubic meters), with an 8.1% share.

In Ukraine, wood fuel production remained relatively stable over the period from 2012-2022. In the other countries, the average annual rates were as follows: Croatia (-0.6% per year) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (-1.0% per year).

Imports

World Imports of Wood Fuel

In 2022, supplies from abroad of wood fuel increased by 29% to 10M cubic meters, rising for the second consecutive year after four years of decline. The total import volume increased at an average annual rate of +1.1% from 2012 to 2022; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2021 when imports increased by 29% against the previous year. Global imports peaked in 2022 and are expected to retain growth in the immediate term.

In value terms, wood fuel imports surged to $840M in 2022. In general, total imports indicated a resilient expansion from 2012 to 2022: its value increased at an average annual rate of +5.3% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, imports increased by +117.2% against 2020 indices. As a result, imports reached the peak and are likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

Imports By Country

Italy represented the largest importer of wood fuel in the world, with the volume of imports amounting to 3.3M cubic meters, which was near 33% of total imports in 2022. South Africa (1,456K cubic meters) ranks second in terms of the total imports with a 14% share, followed by Swaziland (7%) and Germany (4.9%). Slovenia (412K cubic meters), the UK (395K cubic meters), Romania (334K cubic meters), Austria (329K cubic meters), France (265K cubic meters), Norway (247K cubic meters), Denmark (221K cubic meters), Croatia (197K cubic meters) and Finland (171K cubic meters) followed a long way behind the leaders.

Imports into Italy increased at an average annual rate of +8.8% from 2012 to 2022. At the same time, the UK (+39.3%), Croatia (+34.1%), Swaziland (+18.7%), South Africa (+13.8%), France (+11.2%), Norway (+9.2%) and Finland (+4.0%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, the UK emerged as the fastest-growing importer imported in the world, with a CAGR of +39.3% from 2012-2022. Germany experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. By contrast, Slovenia (-1.4%), Romania (-2.5%), Denmark (-7.7%) and Austria (-12.8%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. While the share of Italy (+17 p.p.), South Africa (+10 p.p.), Swaziland (+5.6 p.p.), the UK (+3.7 p.p.), Croatia (+1.8 p.p.) and France (+1.6 p.p.) increased significantly in terms of the global imports from 2012-2022, the share of Denmark (-3.2 p.p.) and Austria (-11.1 p.p.) displayed negative dynamics. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, Italy ($234M) constitutes the largest market for imported wood fuel worldwide, comprising 28% of global imports. The second position in the ranking was taken by the UK ($103M), with a 12% share of global imports. It was followed by Germany, with an 8.1% share.

In Italy, wood fuel imports expanded at an average annual rate of +11.1% over the period from 2012-2022. The remaining importing countries recorded the following average annual rates of imports growth: the UK (+41.2% per year) and Germany (+7.5% per year).

Import Prices By Country

The average wood fuel import price stood at $83 per cubic meter in 2022, growing by 24% against the previous year. Over the period under review, import price indicated a measured expansion from 2012 to 2022: its price increased at an average annual rate of +4.1% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, wood fuel import price increased by +85.6% against 2016 indices. As a result, import price attained the peak level and is likely to continue growth in the immediate term.

Prices varied noticeably by country of destination: amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was the UK ($262 per cubic meter), while Swaziland ($24 per cubic meter) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Finland (+8.3%), while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Exports

World Exports of Wood Fuel

In 2022, shipments abroad of wood fuel decreased by -1.9% to 11M cubic meters for the first time since 2019, thus ending a two-year rising trend. In general, exports saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2013 when exports increased by 23% against the previous year. The global exports peaked at 14M cubic meters in 2015; however, from 2016 to 2022, the exports remained at a lower figure.

In value terms, wood fuel exports skyrocketed to $784M in 2022. Overall, total exports indicated a strong increase from 2012 to 2022: its value increased at an average annual rate of +5.7% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, exports increased by +74.5% against 2019 indices. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2021 when exports increased by 39% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the global exports attained the maximum in 2022 and are expected to retain growth in the near future.

Exports By Country

In 2022, Swaziland (1.4M cubic meters), Croatia (1.1M cubic meters), Latvia (1M cubic meters), France (0.9M cubic meters), Bosnia and Herzegovina (0.8M cubic meters) and South Africa (0.8M cubic meters) represented the key exporter of wood fuel in the world, generating 57% of total export. It was distantly followed by Ukraine (500K cubic meters), constituting a 4.7% share of total exports. The following exporters - Slovenia (452K cubic meters), Germany (398K cubic meters), Lithuania (391K cubic meters), Estonia (335K cubic meters), Poland (248K cubic meters) and Spain (246K cubic meters) - together made up 20% of total exports.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of shipments, amongst the leading exporting countries, was attained by South Africa (with a CAGR of +19.1%), while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the largest wood fuel supplying countries worldwide were Latvia ($143M), Croatia ($77M) and Lithuania ($64M), with a combined 36% share of global exports. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Poland, Swaziland, Ukraine, Estonia, France, South Africa, Germany and Spain lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 45%.

South Africa, with a CAGR of +21.3%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of exports, among the main exporting countries over the period under review, while shipments for the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Export Prices By Country

The average wood fuel export price stood at $74 per cubic meter in 2022, with an increase of 23% against the previous year. Overall, export price indicated prominent growth from 2012 to 2022: its price increased at an average annual rate of +6.1% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, wood fuel export price increased by +111.5% against 2016 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 an increase of 33%. Over the period under review, the average export prices reached the peak figure in 2022 and is expected to retain growth in the near future.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major exporting countries. In 2022, amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was Lithuania ($165 per cubic meter), while Swaziland ($29 per cubic meter) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Ukraine (+10.9%), while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform