The total UK output of wood recyclers rose 1.4% in 2013 to nearly 2.3 million tonnes, according to annual data from the Wood Recyclers Association issued today (May 2).
Figures from the wood recycling sector organisation also show that the output of its own members broke the two million tonnes barriers for the first time in 2013. At 2,003,000 tonnes, the figure is 2% higher compared to the previous year. Adding in almost an additional estimated 300,000 tonnes from non-members (with data supplied by the Wood Panel Industries Federation).
Although the Wood Recyclers Association (WRA) said the figures were largely as expected, it described 2013 as an uneven year for the industry, with the output of non-WRA members falling back slightly as more reprocessors joined the organisation.
Biomass
In addition, exports fell back 9% by 42,000 tonnes last year. Of the total 617,000 tonnes of material exported in 2013, 452,000 tonnes was used for biomass and 165,000 tonnes for panel board.
According to the Association, the vast majority of the fall in exports results from a reduction in biomass fuel due to a number of outages at European plants.
The growth of the biomass market for UK recycled woodchip continued the trend started in 2012 (see letsrecycle.com story), with last years figures showing a fall in the amount of packaging wood sent to board mills much of it instead being diverted to clean biomass.
Panelboard remains the largest UK market for woodchip, although its lead over biomass is at a record low.
Stocks at large biomass plants under construction or commissioning such as the RWE facility in Markinch (see letsrecycle.com story) have also built up, the WRA said.
‘I expect that, as the economy continues to recover, we shall see very positive results across all markets in a year from now’
WRA chairman Andy Hill
High value markets
Meanwhile, the Association believes that an extremely mild early winter in 2013 contributed to a switch among the high value markets from equine towards poultry bedding.
Overall, it is estimated that WRA members provided more than 85% of the total 2.9 million tonnes of woodchip sent to UK and export markets by UK reprocessors, showing little change from the previous year.
Commenting on the figures, WRA chairman Andy Hill, said: These figures are pretty much as expected, with the switch from UK panelboard to biomass, and the reduction in exports, perhaps the outstanding features. The contribution of WRA members to the UK wood recycling industry has continued to grow strongly. I expect that, as the economy continues to recover, we shall see very positive results across all markets in a year from now.
Waste wood to market statistics 2012
|
Wood sent to market in UK |
% Change | |
|---|---|---|
| Panel Board | 853 (909) | -6% |
| Animal/Poultry Bedding | 377 (369) | +2% |
| Equine Surfaces | 57 (56) | +2% |
| Mulches, Soil Conditioners and Composting |
171 (159) | +8% |
| Pathways and Coverings | 9 (9) | = |
| Biomass/Energy | 825 (759) | +9% |
| Total | 2292 (2,261) | +1.4% |
Exports
In addition, WRA members exported 617,000 tonnes of which 452,000 tonnes were destined for biomass and 165,000 for panel-board. This compares to 659,000 in 2012 (-6%) of which 492,000 went for biomass( -8%) and 167,000 for panel-board (-0%).
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