Low natural gas and oil prices, mild winter weather depress biomass and pellet markets in Lake States region

摘要

Biomass and pellet-grade feedstock markets in the Lake States region reach the end of first quarter on an even keel for pricing, though consuming facilities are stuffed full on volume. The combination of a good end to the winter logging season, and reduced usage of biomass due to low natural gas prices and mild weather were cited. A hog fuel buyer said, "The market is really depressed. We"ve substituted a lot of natural gas, and it takes aggressive price reductions on biomass to get to those levels." A supplier simply described the situation as "weak."