Japan’s wood pellet, PKS imports rise in October

Market: Biomass, Electricity
28/11/24

Japan's wood pellet and palm kernel shells (PKS) imports rose on the year in October, the finance ministry data show.

The country imported 692,000t of wood pellets in October, higher by 4pc on the month and by 37pc on the year, the data published on 28 November show. Vietnam remained the biggest supplier in October at 317,000t, followed by the US and Canada at 202,000t and 91,000t, respectively.

Japan's PKS imports in October increased by 19pc on the year to 482,000t, but were lower by 8pc on the month. The biggest supplier was Indonesia at 320,000t, followed by Malaysia at 148,000t.

Higher imports came against a backdrop of the start of several biomass-fired power plants in Japan. The country brought on line its 75MW Ichihara Yawatafuto plant in Chiba prefecture on 21 September, while the 50MW Hyuga plant in Miyazaki prefecture started commercial operations on 16 October.

But Ichihara Yawatafuto stopped operations from 22 October to 5 November because of a fire.

The country plans to restart its 75MW Tokushima Tsuda biomass-fired power plant, which has been halted since late September for facility renovations, after the completion of its maintenance in late December.

Separately, the 20MW Tosa has been shut for an indefinite period because of aging facilities.

By Takeshi Maeda

Japan's imports from key countries ('000t)
	Oct-24	Sep-24	Oct-23	m-o-m ± %	y-o-y ± %

Wood Pellet
Canada	91	105	144	-14	-37
Thailand	11	0	0	-	-
Indonesia	45	32	0	41	-
Vietnam	317	345	178	-8	78
Malaysia	24	35	35	-33	-32
US	202	148	148	37	37
Russia	2	0	0	-	-
Total	692	665	505	4	37
PKS
Indonesia	320	420	337	-24	-5
Malaysia	148	88	64	69	133
Sri Lanka	3	4	3	-20	21
Thailand	10	11	0	-6	-
Total	482	523	403	-8	19
Source: Finance ministry

Related news posts

Argus illuminates the markets by putting a lens on the areas that matter most to you. The market news and commentary we publish reveals vital insights that enable you to make stronger, well-informed decisions. Explore a selection of news stories related to this one.

News

23/06/25

UK set to boost clean energy investments by £30bn/yr

London, 23 June (Argus) — The UK government plans to increase its clean energy investment by more than £30bn/yr over the next 10 years as part of its broader industrial strategy, it announced today. The new Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan sets out a framework to boost the UK' economy to 2035 by investing in low-carbon technologies. It focuses on key sectors including offshore and onshore wind, nuclear fission and fusion, hydrogen, carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) and heat pumps. State-owned entity Great British Energy will invest more than £8.3bn during this parliament, including £1bn for a Clean Energy Supply Chain Fund to support domestic manufacturing. The National Wealth Fund, with £27.8bn in capital, will channel at least £5.8bn into CCUS, hydrogen, ports and green steel projects. And state-owned development bank the British Business Bank will allocate £4bn under its Industrial Strategy Growth Capital package to attract £12bn in private investment for climate technology firms, the government said. The contracts for difference scheme's newly launched "clean industry bonus" has committed £544bn to offshore wind supply chains, potentially leveraging £9bn in private funds, with discussions under way to extend this to hydrogen and onshore wind. The offshore wind sector is projected to contribute £2bn-3bn of gross value added per gigawatt installed and could support 100,000 jobs by 2030, the government said. Nuclear fission initiatives include £300mn for the high-assay low-enriched uranium fuel programme, while the projected 3.2GW Hinkley Point C and 3.2GW Sizewell C nuclear plants aim to pass on 64pc and 70pc, respectively, of the construction value to UK businesses. Fusion energy will receive £2.5bn over five years to advance research, including the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production prototype by 2040. Hydrogen projects, backed by the hydrogen allocation rounds, are expected to secure £400mn in private investment by 2026, with a regional hydrogen network planned for 2031. CCUS will benefit from £9.4bn to support the East Coast and HyNet clusters, with further funding for the Acorn and Viking clusters under review. And a £13.2bn Warm Homes Plan aims to boost heat pump demand, supported by an investment accelerator competition to expand manufacturing. Starting in 2027, the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme is intended to reduce electricity costs by up to £40/MWh for more than 7,000 electricity-intensive businesses in manufacturing sectors such as automotive, aerospace and chemicals. Industrials will be exempt from levies used to fund renewables obligation schemes, feed-in tariffs and the capacity market. And the government plans to increase support for about 500 energy-intensive firms such as steel and glass manufacturers by raising their electricity network charge discount from 2026 to 90pc from 60pc. The plan projects significant job growth by 2035, with a forthcoming Clean Energy Workforce Strategy to address skill shortages in engineering and manufacturing, the government said. By Timothy Santonastaso Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Find out more

News

Subsidised bio-LNG deemed eligible under FuelEU

23/06/25

News

23/06/25

Subsidised bio-LNG deemed eligible under FuelEU

London, 23 June (Argus) — Subsidised bio-LNG and other types of alternative fuels are deemed eligible under FuelEU Maritime Regulation, according to sources with knowledge of the matter. FuelEU allows emissions reductions supported under other legal frameworks, such as the support schemes under RED, in order to encourage greater investment in less carbon-intensive marine fuels. Under Directive (EU) 2018/2001 (RED), the greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions are counted towards member states' targets, while under FuelEU the targets are set to shipping companies. Excluding subsidised marine fuels may otherwise lead to competitive disadvantages for smaller sectors, such as European biomethane. The European Commission has not yet issued an official statement. Demand for bio-LNG has risen sharply this year with the start of FuelEU Maritime in January, requiring ship-owners to reduce their GHG emissions by 2pc in 2025, with targets steadily rising to 80pc in 2050. Subsidised, bunker dob bio-LNG in Northwest Europe was last assessed at €78.09/MWh ($89.55/MWh) on Thursday, while its unsubsidised counterpart was assessed at €93.59/MWh. By Madeleine Jenkins Bio-LNG vs Gas Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

Russia condemns US strikes, offers Iran support

23/06/25

News

23/06/25

Russia condemns US strikes, offers Iran support

London, 23 June (Argus) — Russia has condemned US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities but said they will not affect Moscow's dialogue with Washington. "This is an absolutely unprovoked aggression against Iran. It has no basis or justification," state news agency Tass quoted President Vladimir Putin as saying during a meeting in Moscow with Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi. Earlier today, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also criticised the strikes and expressed "deep regret" over the escalating conflict in the Middle East. "There has been an increase in the number of participants in this conflict, a new round of escalation of tensions in the region. And of course, we condemn this and express deep regret in this regard," Peskov said, according to Tass. Despite the tensions, Peskov said the US strikes would not affect Russia's bilateral dialogue with Washington, describing the two processes as "independent". He also raised concerns about potential radiation risks from the attacks. "We need to find out what happened to these nuclear facilities and whether there is a radiation hazard," he said, while noting that the UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, had reported no signs of contamination so far. Peskov said Russia is ready to support Iran, depending on Tehran's needs. "We have offered our mediation efforts. This is specific," he said. "Everything depends on what Iran needs." Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

Iran vows payback after US strike on nuclear facilities

23/06/25

News

23/06/25

Iran vows payback after US strike on nuclear facilities

Dubai, 23 June (Argus) — Iran said today that US airstrikes on its nuclear facilities have expanded the range of legitimate military targets for its armed forces, intensifying concerns over supply disruptions in a region that underpins global oil trade. Powerful and targeted operations with "serious consequences" await the US in response to its direct involvement in strikes on Iranian soil, according to Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya central military headquarters. "Mr. Trump, the gambler, you may start this war, but we will be the ones to end it," Zolfaqari said. The US strikes on three heavily fortified nuclear facilities in Iran early on 22 June local time marked a clear shift, with Washington now openly joining Israel's military campaign against Tehran's nuclear programme, which Israel views as an existential threat. Israel and Iran have been trading airstrikes and missiles since 13 June. The US has thousands of troops stationed across the Middle East, including in Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. While Iran has threatened retaliation, it has so far held back from steps often floated by its leadership, such as striking US bases in the region or closing the strait of Hormuz — a vital waterway through which about a quarter of global seaborne oil trade flows. The US bombing and Iran's threats of retaliation caused crude futures to rise sharply in early trading on 23 June , with front-month Ice Brent climbing above $80/bl for the first time in five months, as the US bombing raised fears of wider escalation. But markets later pared gains. The August Ice Brent contract was trading at $76.56/bl as of 08:25 GMT, down by 45¢/bl from its 20 June settlement. Trump warned Iran against retaliating for the strikes and signalled he is open to regime change in Tehran. "If the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn't there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!" he said on Sunday, as Tehran continued to show defiance. He followed up by claiming the strikes had caused "monumental" damage to Iran's nuclear sites, adding that the "biggest damage took place far below ground level. Bullseye!!!" The full extent of the damage remains unverified. But "even if nuclear sites are destroyed, game isn't over, enriched materials, indigenous knowledge, political will remain", said top Iranian military and nuclear adviser, Ali Shamkhani. The UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, said on 22 June that no increases in off-site radiation levels had been reported following the US strikes. Director general Rafael Grossi, in an address to the UN Security Council, confirmed that Fordow — Iran's main facility for enriching uranium to 60pc — was hit. He also said the Esfahan nuclear site and the Natanz enrichment facility were struck again. By Bachar Halabi Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

NZ’s Genesis Energy to maintain coal generators to 2035

23/06/25

News

23/06/25

NZ’s Genesis Energy to maintain coal generators to 2035

Sydney, 23 June (Argus) — Four New Zealand utilities have signed a non-binding agreement to support utility Genesis Energy's coal and gas-fired Rankine generators at its 953MW Huntly power station through to 2035, underpinning New Zealand coal demand for a decade. The company announced the deal on 19 June. It did not reveal the specific support mechanisms in the deal, but likely involves the other utilities making annual payments in exchange for the right to buy electricity from the company's Huntly power station as needed. Genesis will use the support to maintain its Rankine units until 2035 and build a fuel reserve at Huntly. One of the generators was set to retire in 2026, and two others were previously set to shut early in the next decade. Maintenance will be required on the unit set to retire in 2026. Genesis expects to finalise an agreement with the other utilities by the start of 2026, with the aim to have all Rankine units on line by mid-2026 in time for New Zealand's winter period. Genesis' Rankine units at its Huntly power station play a supporting role in New Zealand's power system, firing up when renewable generation from hydroelectric, geothermal and wind sources falls. The company is working on transitioning its Rankine units to biomass generators, but this is dependent on economic viability of black wood pellet prices . Indonesian sub-bituminous coal, which Genesis uses to power Huntly, is currently much cheaper than pellets. By Avinash Govind Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Business intelligence reports

Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.

Learn more