Biomass Briquette Market Size and Share
Market Overview
| Study Period | 2020 - 2030 |
|---|---|
| Market Size (2025) | USD 0.96 Billion |
| Market Size (2030) | USD 1.44 Billion |
| Growth Rate (2025 - 2030) | 8.39% CAGR |
| Fastest Growing Market | Asia Pacific |
| Largest Market | Asia Pacific |
| Market Concentration | Low |
Major Players
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order Image © Mordor Intelligence. Reuse requires attribution under CC BY 4.0. |
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Biomass Briquette Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence
The Biomass Briquette Market size is estimated at USD 0.96 billion in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 1.44 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 8.39% during the forecast period (2025-2030).
Rising carbon-pricing schemes, co-firing mandates, and industrial decarbonization targets underpin this expansion. Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) rules in the European Union raise the delivered cost of coal and petcoke, widening the competitiveness gap in favor of briquettes(1) European Parliament and Council, “Regulation (EU) 2023/956 Establishing a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism,” Official Journal of the European Union, eur-lex.europa.eu. Rapid electrification programs across Sub-Saharan Africa position biomass as a transitional cooking and power fuel, while commercial-scale torrefaction improves energy density and logistics economics. The maritime sector’s adoption of low-sulphur solid fuels, enabled by ISO 8217:2024, adds a nascent but fast-growing demand stream.
Key Report Takeaways
- By product type, agro briquettes led with 42.5% revenue share in 2024; torrefied briquettes are forecast to expand at a 10.7% CAGR to 2030.
- By application, power generation held 37.2% of the biomass briquette market share in 2024, while cooking fuel is advancing at a 10.3% CAGR through 2030.
- By raw material, sawdust captured 29.7% share of the biomass briquette market size in 2024; rice husk is projected to grow at a 9.9% CAGR to 2030.
- By geography, Asia-Pacific accounted for 48.1% share of the biomass briquette market in 2024 and is poised to record a 9.2% CAGR between 2025 and 2030.
Global Biomass Briquette Market Trends and Insights
Drivers Impact Analysis
| Driver | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government co-firing mandates in coal plants | 1.80% | Global, early uptake in EU & North America | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Surge in boiler retrofits for solid biofuels | 1.20% | North America & EU, spill-over to Asia-Pacific | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Rural electrification programs | 0.90% | Sub-Saharan Africa core, expansion to South Asia | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| EU CBAM spill-over | 1.10% | Global, primary impact on EU trading partners | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| Commercial-scale torrefaction breakthroughs | 0.80% | North America & EU technology leadership | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
| Maritime switch to low-sulphur solid fuels | 0.70% | Global shipping hubs | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Source: Mordor Intelligence | |||
Government Co-firing Mandates in Coal Plants
Co-firing requirements obligate coal utilities to blend 10–20% biomass, delivering immediate emissions cuts without heavy capital upgrades(2) UK Government, “Transitional Support Mechanism for Large-Scale Biomass Generators,” gov.uk. The United Kingdom’s transitional support mechanism keeps 7% of national electricity online until BECCS facilities start after 2030. South Korea’s reduced renewable energy credits for imported pellets from 2025 amplify domestic briquette demand (3)Daniel Ciolkosz, “Co-firing Biomass with Coal,” extension.psu.edu. India’s biomass program ensures offtake via indexed pricing, lowering market risk for producers. Similar portfolio standards in U.S. states such as Pennsylvania provide predictable demand and encourage supply-chain investment.
Surge in Boiler Retrofits for Solid Biofuels
Industrial boilers are being re-lined or augmented to fire densified biomass as a cost-effective alternative to full electrification. U.S. Department of Energy guidance notes that electrification retrofits can exceed grid capacities in older buildings, prompting owners to favor biomass conversions. Babcock & Wilcox’s Michigan coal-to-biomass project validated retrofit economics at a commercial scale. The SUSHEAT project quantified 134.92 TWh of process-heat potential for biomass across European food, chemical, and textile plants, reinforcing retrofit demand.
Rural Electrification Programs in Sub-Saharan Africa
Grid expansion remains cost-prohibitive for many remote communities, making briquette-fueled micro-grids and improved cookstoves attractive. Rwanda identified fast-growing tree species with high calorific value to supply distributed biomass plants. Cameroon targets 420 MW of biomass capacity by 2035, up from 37 MW in 2024, with briquettes as the principal fuel. Asia-Pacific development banks integrate briquettes into energy-access programs, pairing them with clean cookstoves to cut indoor air pollution.
EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism Spill-over
CBAM applies a carbon levy of EUR 110–240 per tonne CO2eq on carbon-intensive imports while biomass retains a zero-rating under RED II, lifting briquette competitiveness in steel, cement, and chemicals. Export-oriented producers in emerging economies face a strategic decision to adopt low-carbon fuels such as briquettes or risk losing access to EU markets.
Restraints Impact Analysis
| Restraint | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low-priced LNG glut in Southeast Asia | -1.40% | Southeast Asia core, spill-over to APAC | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| High logistics cost for low-density briquettes | -1.10% | Global, long-distance trade | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Stricter particulate-matter norms on stoves | -0.80% | Developed markets | Medium term (2-4 years) |
| Competing demand from pellet export industry | -0.90% | Biomass-producing regions | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
| Source: Mordor Intelligence | |||
Low-priced LNG Glut in Southeast Asia
Abundant LNG pushes delivered gas prices below solid biomass alternatives for industrial heat. Indonesian forests face rising extraction pressure under foreign pellet subsidies, yet oversupply keeps briquette prices muted. Many manufacturers prioritize short-term fuel savings with minimal carbon fees, limiting briquette uptake.
High Intra-continental Logistics Cost for Low-density Briquettes
Despite 60% transport-cost cuts versus raw biomass, briquetting raises total supply cost by nearly 38% because densification, handling, and additional trucking are unavoidable. Rail becomes cheaper only beyond 52 km, while barging is viable where waterways exist. Producers cluster facilities near residues or demand hubs to minimize haulage.
Segment Analysis
Agro briquettes held 42.5% of the biomass briquette market 2024, benefiting from inexpensive agricultural residues and established small-scale presses. Their position translates to the largest slice of the biomass briquette market size, particularly in Asia’s farm belts. Torrefied briquettes, although newer, are anticipated to grow at a 10.7% CAGR because utility boilers can feed them without modifications, and freight costs fall as energy density rises. Wood briquettes and charcoal blends target specialty uses such as barbecue or high-temperature furnaces.
Commercial torrefaction plants trim mass and moisture, creating coal-like chips that survive long voyages and open export trade lanes. Pilot screw reactors running at 550 °C have proven continuous self-heating, limiting external fuel demand and shrinking operating expenditure. Solar-assisted pyrolysis could drop the cost to EUR 18.7 per GJ, widening adoption in sun-belt regions. As a result, the biomass briquette market expects torrefied products to erode the share of both traditional briquettes and fossil coal in power generation.
By Raw Material: Rice Husk Acceleration Challenges Sawdust Dominance
Sawdust supplied 29.7% of feedstock in 2024, anchored by mature saw-mill networks and steady moisture profiles, yet rice husk shows the fastest 9.9% CAGR. Asia generates more than 330 million tonnes of husk yearly, with only 20% currently valorized, leaving vast untapped volumes. Rice husk briquettes burn with high silica ash that cements and brick makers can upcycle, making waste management an extra revenue stream.
Feedstock diversification stabilizes supply. Bagasse, groundnut shells, coconut husk, and mixed crop residues lower cost volatility and permit continuous operation during each crop’s off-season. Kenyan rice irrigation projects demonstrate circular practices where husk transforms into briquettes and biochar, closing nutrient loops on farms. Such integrated approaches enhance raw-material security and broaden the biomass briquette market’s regional resilience.
By Application: Cooking Fuel Momentum Outpaces Power Generation Scale
Power generation captured a 37.2% share in 2024, supported by co-firing mandates and established biomass plants. However, household cooking fuels are projected to grow at a 10.3% CAGR, driven by the 82% of Sub-Saharan African homes still reliant on traditional biomass. Improved briquettes cut indoor smoke and meet emerging particulate rules, accelerating adoption.
Industrial process heat users, such as food and textiles, retrofit boilers to comply with carbon fees. Commercial and institutional buildings in colder climates install automated briquette boilers to meet decarbonization deadlines at a lower cost than full electrification. Residential space-heating markets in Europe and North America choose engineered briquettes to meet 2.0 g/h particulate standards while retaining wood-stove aesthetics. This diversity cushions the biomass briquette market against demand swings in any segment.
Geography Analysis
Asia-Pacific owned 48.1% of the biomass briquette market share in 2024 and is forecast to grow at a 9.2% CAGR to 2030, supported by abundant crop residues and policy-backed rural electrification. China alone produces more than 330 million tonnes of rice residue yearly, while India’s offtake guarantees lower sales risk for briquette makers. Japan and South Korea continue to import processed biomass despite subsidy recalibrations, sustaining regional trade flows. ASEAN nations exploit palm and rice residues, with Thailand’s biorefinery ecosystem and Indonesia’s large biomass base reinforcing supply security. Logistics constraints across archipelagos, however, drive localized clusters of demand.
Europe represents a mature, policy-driven arena where sustainability certification is mandatory. CBAM elevates carbon costs on fossil imports, favoring briquettes in heavy industry. The Renewables Directive now targets 42.5% renewable energy by 2030, and UK transitional support keeps 7% of national electricity sourced from biomass until BECCS units phase in. Nordic district-heating systems use high-quality briquettes alongside pellets. Germany and Austria subsidize pellet boilers by up to 75%, indirectly lifting briquette demand. The first decline in EU pellet consumption since 2015 during a warm winter illustrates weather sensitivity that producers must hedge against.
North America pairs rich forest residues with carbon-pricing incentives. U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard Set 2 raises domestic biomass-based diesel quotas, channeling more residues into energy. A 2025 executive order to boost sustainable timber harvest could increase sawdust supply while reducing wildfire risk. Canada leverages 8.1 GW of existing biomass power capacity, and new U.S. proposals such as Georgetown County’s USD 4 billion biomass plant highlight large utility demand. Mexico’s agrarian states see rice husk briquettes replacing LPG in burners where pipeline gas is absent.
Competitive Landscape
The biomass briquette market remains fragmented. Small regional makers specialize in a single raw material, while larger groups integrate from feedstock to final distribution. Producers adopting torrefaction gain price premiums and access to export utilities that require high-energy briquettes; those sticking to conventional presses compete on local cost leadership.
Equipment suppliers such as C.F. Nielsen and RUF partner with briquette makers to offer turnkey plants, accelerating scale-up in Africa and Latin America. Certification—RED II, ISO 8217, or voluntary carbon standards—has become pivotal for entry into the EU and maritime fuel value chains. Strategic white spaces lie in shipping fuel feedstocks, industrial process-heat hybrid systems, and off-grid rural energy, where few fossil incumbents possess biomass logistics know-how.
Mergers remain modest, but joint ventures between forestry firms and energy utilities are rising. This alignment secures residue supply for power plants while diversifying revenue for timber companies. The competitive intensity is therefore shaped less by headline consolidation and more by vertical collaboration and technology adoption pace within the biomass briquette market.
Biomass Briquette Industry Leaders
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Radhe Industrial Corporation
-
C.F. Nielsen A/S
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RUF Briquetting Systems
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ECOSTAN
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Biomass Briquettes UK Ltd
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Recent Industry Developments
- January 2025: U.S. EPA issued the proposed Renewable Fuel Standard Set 2 Rule, lifting 2026-2027 biomass-based diesel volumes and prioritizing domestic feedstocks.
- May 2025: European Commission confirmed Renewables Directive sectoral targets for a minimum 42.5% renewable share by 2030.
- March 2025: Executive order aimed at expanding sustainable timber harvest signed in the United States, potentially increasing sawdust availability.
- March 2025: Georgetown County announced plans for a USD 4 billion biomass plant at a former paper mill, expected to create up to 500 jobs.
Global Biomass Briquette Market Report Scope
| Agro Briquettes |
| Wood Briquettes |
| Torrefied Briquettes |
| Charcoal-Blend Briquettes |
| Others |
| Sawdust |
| Rice Husk |
| Bagasse |
| Groundnut (Peanut) Shells |
| Coconut Husk and Shell |
| Corn Stover and Straw |
| Forestry Residues |
| Mixed Agricultural Waste |
| Power Generation |
| Industrial Process Heating |
| Commercial and Institutional Heating |
| Residential Space and Water Heating |
| Cooking Fuel |
| Others |
| North America | United States |
| Canada | |
| Mexico | |
| Europe | United Kingdom |
| Germany | |
| France | |
| Spain | |
| Nordic Countries | |
| Russia | |
| Rest of Europe | |
| Asia-Pacific | China |
| India | |
| Japan | |
| South Korea | |
| ASEAN Countries | |
| Rest of Asia-Pacific | |
| South America | Brazil |
| Argentina | |
| Colombia | |
| Rest of South America | |
| Middle East and Africa | United Arab Emirates |
| Saudi Arabia | |
| South Africa | |
| Egypt | |
| Rest of Middle East and Africa |
| By Type | Agro Briquettes | |
| Wood Briquettes | ||
| Torrefied Briquettes | ||
| Charcoal-Blend Briquettes | ||
| Others | ||
| By Raw Material | Sawdust | |
| Rice Husk | ||
| Bagasse | ||
| Groundnut (Peanut) Shells | ||
| Coconut Husk and Shell | ||
| Corn Stover and Straw | ||
| Forestry Residues | ||
| Mixed Agricultural Waste | ||
| By Application | Power Generation | |
| Industrial Process Heating | ||
| Commercial and Institutional Heating | ||
| Residential Space and Water Heating | ||
| Cooking Fuel | ||
| Others | ||
| By Geography | North America | United States |
| Canada | ||
| Mexico | ||
| Europe | United Kingdom | |
| Germany | ||
| France | ||
| Spain | ||
| Nordic Countries | ||
| Russia | ||
| Rest of Europe | ||
| Asia-Pacific | China | |
| India | ||
| Japan | ||
| South Korea | ||
| ASEAN Countries | ||
| Rest of Asia-Pacific | ||
| South America | Brazil | |
| Argentina | ||
| Colombia | ||
| Rest of South America | ||
| Middle East and Africa | United Arab Emirates | |
| Saudi Arabia | ||
| South Africa | ||
| Egypt | ||
| Rest of Middle East and Africa | ||
Key Questions Answered in the Report
What is the forecast value of the biomass briquette market by 2030?
The biomass briquette market is projected to reach USD 1,442.66 million by 2030, reflecting an 8.39% CAGR.
Which region leads demand for briquettes?
Asia-Pacific accounts for 48.1% of global demand and is expected to grow at 9.2% CAGR through 2030, driven by abundant residues and rural electrification initiatives.
Which application segment is expanding fastest?
Cooking fuel records the strongest growth at a 10.3% CAGR as households in developing regions shift from traditional biomass to cleaner briquettes.
How are torrefied briquettes positioned against traditional products?
Torrefied briquettes offer higher energy density and logistics savings, supporting a 10.7% CAGR and gaining utility-scale acceptance for coal substitution.
What major policy supports briquette competitiveness in Europe?
The EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism imposes carbon costs on fossil fuel imports while sustainably sourced biomass remains zero-rated, enhancing briquette economics.
Which raw material shows the highest growth?
Rice husk briquettes are projected to expand at a 9.9% CAGR, capitalizing on Asia’s rice residue surplus and favorable combustion characteristics.
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