From the Director’s Desk: Dog Days Are Over, Where Are We Now?, Thoughts and Prayers for Horizon Biofuels
Dog Days Are Over
Only October sees wood pellet manufacturers produce more pellets than they do in August. With a five-year average of 164,505 tons of production, the month can rightly be called the beginning of the heating season. By comparison, production in July averages almost 20,000 fewer tons. Sales, too, show a significant departure from previous months. July sales average 140,126 tons, and in August, U.S. total sales jump up to 191,416 tons. Up and down the wood pellet supply chain, it is clear folks are thinking about the upcoming heating season.
A few August records:
Highest August Production (U.S. Total): 195,822 tons (2019)
Highest August Sales (U.S. Total): 224,964 tons (2020)
Highest August Production (East): 111,498 tons (2022)
Highest August Sales (East): 129,965 tons (2022)
Where Are We Now?
The EIA’s Monthly Densified Biomass Fuel Report continues to significantly lag behind their normal production timeline. Last year, in the corresponding Pellet Wire to the issue you are reading now, I reported on the May 2024 data, putting the report officially two months behind. I’m hopeful that we will see April data in the coming weeks, but at the time of production the Monthly Densified Biomass Fuel Report had only been populated with data through March.
Thoughts and Prayers for Horizon Biofuels
On Tuesday, July 29th, a wood pellet manufacturing site near Fremont, Nebraska experienced a catastrophic explosion claiming the lives of three people, two of whom were children. While Horizon Biofuels was not a member of the PFI, we have fielded a number of phone calls and notes of condolences. Anyone involved in the manufacture of any product can empathize with the tragedy of an incident that claims the lives of an employee, to say nothing of the cruel reality of two children who happened to be at the plant at the time. On behalf of its membership, The Pellet Fuels Institute extends our sympathies to the impacted families. GoFundMe sites have been established for the families of both the children who lost their lives. The PFI has made a contribution to both funds and invites readers of the Pellet Wire who feel compelled to make a contribution to do the same.
