LONDON-- Global energy price reporting agency Argus has expanded its coverage of the biomass market with the launch today of a weekly spot price index for industrial wood pellets exported from the Baltic region. Argus has also launched forward price assessments for industrial Baltic wood pellets up to 2014.

The launch is seen as a natural progression and expansion of Argus' biomass coverage and comes at the request of the wider biomass market. The Baltic region is a key source of supply, exporting large volumes to Scandinavia and northwest Europe. The index will be based on exports from Riga, with differentials supplied for the ports of Klaipeda, Liepaja, St Petersburg, Tallinn, Ventspils and Vyborg.

The Baltic price assessments build on Argus' coverage of the industrial wood pellet and wood chip markets, which began in May 2009. Wood pellets, and increasingly wood chips, are widely acknowledged as the most advanced biomass products in terms of commoditisation and the ability to trade under standard terms.

The weekly Argus Biomass Markets report provides analytical market commentary, news, analysis of generation economics, and project tracker tables for new plants.

"The market for biomass is developing quickly, with many new entrants,  increasing standardisation and commoditisation. We are pleased that we can contribute in bringing price transparency and are grateful for the input of market participants who have helped us develop these new assessments," Argus Media chairman and chief executive Adrian Binks said.

Argus specifications for wood chips and wood pellets are listed in the methodology for Argus Biomass Markets, which is available online.

About Argus

Argus Media is a leading provider of price assessments, business intelligence and market data on the global crude, oil products, natural gas, electricity, coal, emissions, bioenergy, fertiliser and transportation industries. It is headquartered in London and has offices in Houston, Washington, New York, Portland, Calgary, Johannesburg, Dubai, Singapore, Tokyo, Beijing, Sydney, Moscow, Astana, Kiev, Santiago and other key centres of the energy industry. Argus was founded in 1970 and is a privately held UK-registered company.

SOURCE: Argus Media