2018
07/19
Biomass Prices Are Rising Not Even Halfway through the Summer Season The beginning of the summer season 2018 significantly changed the purchasing strategy of heat producers. Most of the buyers bought biomass under one-week and one-month contracts. Analysis of the price changes in the summer seasons of 2015-2018 shows that the prices of both short-term and long-term contracts have been rising not even halfway through this summer season. Comparing the volumes and prices of contracts concluded by the end of
2018
07/02
Transactions for biomass worth EUR 200 million concluded In May of this year, the value of transactions concluded at BALTPOOL Biomass Exchange exceeded EUR 200 million. Some of the facts related to this achievement are described below: More than 1.3 million toe of biomass, which accounts for approximately 250 000 woodchips transportation vehicles, was purchased; More than 15 000 transactions were concluded; Latvian biomass suppliers accounted for approximately 2.5% of the biomass market; A total of 78 buyers and 179 sellers from
2018
06/29
OVERVIEW OF LONG-TERM AND HALF-YEAR AUCTIONS The long-term and half-year auctions of the 2nd half of 2018 organised by regional divisions of the State Enterprise State Forests Directorate were completed on 29 May 2018. At the auctions, 586,430 m3 of timber was sold, of which 526,340 m3 accounted for round timber and 60,080 m3 accounted for timber harvesting residues. Regional divisions of the State Enterprise State Forests Directorate sold 99.42% of the planned amount (589,860 m3). Half-year auction of the
2018
06/20
The Operator of the exchange has recently received buyer requests to supplement the specifications of biomass products with sulphur and chlorine limits and to provide for real sanctions for instances of increased content of these chemical elements. Buyers ground their requests on specific measurements, in the buyers’ opinion, high content of the chemical elements has resulted in the corrosion of biomass combustion installations. The Operator took biomass samples and conducted sulphur and chlorine content tests. The tests revealed that even
2018
05/22
Just after completion of the heating season 2017-2018, long-term contracts for the coming heating season 2018-2019 were concluded at BALTPOOL Biomass Exchange in April: 1,440 toe of woodchips at 160 EUR/toe was purchased in Klaipėda county, and 432 toe at 155 EUR/toe in Utena county. Comparison of long-term contracts with the contracts concluded in the same counties during the same period last year shows that biomass was 5% cheaper (152.17 EUR/toe) in Klaipėda county, and 14% cheaper (132.73 EUR/toe) in Utena county in the past heating
2018
05/18
In April 2018, the regional offices of the State Forestry Enterprise sold 21 thousand m3 of timber, i.e. 9 percent more than in March, at 36 short-term auctions. The financial value of contracts was EUR 916.1 thousand. The highest demand was for timber, 5.5 thousand m3 of it was sold, packing logs – 5.3 thousand m3, pulpwood – 4.8 thousand m3. The weighted price of timber sold in April 2018 at the ETTS decreased by 10 percent compared to March
2018
05/17
During the 2017-2018 heating season, biomass through the BALTPOOL Biomass Exchange was supplied under 4067 contracts. The number of contracts concluded during this heating season was 27% higher than during the previous heating season (3198 contracts). The total value of biomass supplied during the 2017-2018 heating season increased by 19%: from EUR 45.2 million to EUR 53.6 million compared to the previous heating season. The contracts were executed by 61 buyers and 102 sellers from Lithuania and Latvia. The total
2018
04/19
First Long-term Contracts for Summer Season on the Biomass Exchange In March, the first long-term contracts for the supply in the summer season were concluded on BALTPOOL Biomass Exchange. During the whole trading period of long-term contracts for the supply in the summer season, buyers purchased 27 522 toe of biomass under long-term contracts. The largest part of purchased biomass was acquired by Šiauliai and Panevėžys counties. Last year during the same period, buyers had purchased 49% more biomass (41 106 toe)
2018
04/13
Forty-three auctions for concluding of short-term contracts for purchase and sale of timber took place at the ETTS in March 2018. The regional offices of the State Forestry Enterprise sold 19 thousand m3 of timber at the auctions. The total value of the contracts amounted to 937.18 thousand euro. The highest demand was for timber, its trade amounted to 8.4 thousand m3, the trade in firewood amounted to 5.4 thousand m3, and the trade in wood panels and pulpwood exceeded
2018
03/21
The wholesale trade in timber from state-owned forests in the Electronic Timber Trading System (ETTS) was launched at the end of February. Four auctions for short-term contracts took place during the month. The contracts were concluded by 7 sellers and 17 buyers. The regional offices of the State Forestry Enterprise sold 4,695 m3 of timber at the auctions. The total value of the contracts amounted to 179,6 thousand EUR. The highest demand was for timber and pulpwood, their trade amounted
2018
03/21
First Contracts between Latvian Participants on the Biomass Exchange In February 2018, the first contracts between Latvian participants were concluded on BALTPOOL Biomass Exchange. Under one-week contracts, the buyer from the Latvian Kurzeme region will be supplied by 5 Latvian sellers at the weighted average price of 206.83 EUR/toe. The contract’s value is EUR 7,446. The results of this year’s trade on the Exchange show that Latvian sellers tend to become more active in the Exchange. In February, their trade
2018
03/19
Starting from 19 March, to ensure the transparent and competitive trade, BALTPOOL, the Energy Exchange operator belonging to the EPSO-G group, will publish the BALTPOOL WOOD CHIPS SPOT LITHUANIA (BWCS Lithuania) price index. The purpose of the BWCS Lithuania index is to enable market participants to easily evaluate the current situation in the biomass market and biomass price changes and trends. The index will become a convenient tool suitable for a variety of purposes, including bilateral contract pricing, company internal
2018
02/23
The Year Started with a Record Trade at the Exchange The Biomass Exchange started 2018 with doubled trade volumes: 39,857 toe of biomass was purchased in January, which is 1.9 times more compared with December, when 21,074 toe of biomass was purchased. Biomass was purchased by concluding 909 contracts – this is the highest number per month from the beginning of the Exchange operation. The financial value of the contracts amounted to EUR 8.7 million. So far, the highest trade
2018
02/06
On 6 February 2018, the Lithuanian biomass exchange BALTPOOL in cooperation with partners launched the biomass exchange BiomassPool ApS in the Kingdom of Denmark. It is the first biomass exchange in this country. “One of BALTPOOL’s strategic objectives is to expand its operations in other countries while relying on our knowledge and expertise. The demand for biomass in Denmark is rapidly growing and a large share of biomass is acquired under international transactions, which means that this country offers us
2018
01/25
Significant events at the Energy Exchange in 2017 The number of transactions grew by 20% (to 5,088). The trade turnover increased by 12% (to EUR 62,830,000). The price of woodchips rose by 13% (to 173.64 EUR/toe in December). The number of participants exceeded three hundred (303). The import of biomass grew by 70% (to 153,000 toe). The Exchange fees decreased by 13% (to 0.61 EUR/toe). In 2017, the participant geography of the Energy Exchange expanded to all three Baltic countries
2018
01/11
Starting from 10 January, the electronic trading system for raw timber produced in State-owned forests will be administered by BALTPOOL UAB, the energy exchange operator belonging to the State-managed EPSO-G group of companies. Prior to that, the Directorate General of State Forests under the Ministry of the Environment was responsible for the trade in State-owned timber. The purpose of the wholesale trading system for raw timber and timber harvesting residues produced in State-owned forests administered by BALTPOOL is to provide
2017
12/20
Please be informed, that trading in the Energy Exchange 52nd week of the 2017 year (25/12/2017 - 31/12/2017) will be held on the first working day of this calendar week (27/12/2017), by the Order No. IS-170052 of the Chief Executive Officer of Energy Exchange operator BALTPOOL
2017
12/14
Turnover of the biomass Exchange has decreased due changed trading strategy In November, the turnover of the BALTPOOL biomass Exchange dropped by 14% compared to October – from EUR 7.849 million to EUR 6.753 million. The weighted average prices under concluded transactions increased by 2% per month – from 176.80 EUR/toe to 180.16 EUR/toe. The prices grew by 21% compared to November 2016 (148.46 EUR/toe). The decrease in the turnover was due to the changed trading strategy in the heating
2017
11/20
On 10 November 2017, the National Commission for Energy Control and Prices approved new, 13% lower fees of BALTPOOL Energy Exchange for market participants trading in biomass. A substantial change in fees will be the application of a trade fee 0.61 Eur per toe instead of 0.7 Eur per toe, which was valid from 15 August 2016. As before, the annual membership fee will not be charged to the participants. The new fee will apply for contracts concluded on the
2017
11/20
First reserve product transactions concluded at BALTPOOL biomass Exchange The first biomass reserve product transactions were concluded at the biomass Exchange on 31 October: buyers purchased 390 toe of biomass reserve product in Žemaitija for the weighted price of 213.38 EUR/toe. Biomass reserve products constitute a method for biomass buyers to secure the availability of biomass in case deliveries are interrupted during the cold season of the year. A buyer that purchases a biomass reserve may demand at any time