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This table presents detailed data on global peat production, categorized by country or locality and further divided into uses such as fuel and horticulture. Peat, an accumulation of partially decayed organic matter found in wetlands, serves as a significant energy source in some regions and as a valuable component in horticultural products worldwide. Tracking production volumes by country and use is crucial for understanding supply dynamics, environmental impacts, and economic dependencies related to peat extraction and consumption. This data supports policymakers, industry stakeholders, and environmental analysts in making informed decisions regarding resource management, energy planning, and sustainable agricultural practices.
Analysis of the data reveals that Finland remains the largest producer, with a total estimated output of 5,500 thousand metric tons in 2023, despite a notable decline from 11,840 thousand metric tons in 2019. This reduction is primarily due to decreased fuel use, which dropped from 10,077 thousand metric tons in 2019 to an estimated 3,000 thousand metric tons in 2023, while horticultural use has increased somewhat. Canada shows a significant upward trend in horticultural peat production, rising from 1,307 thousand metric tons in 2019 to 3,028 thousand metric tons in 2023. Rwanda exhibits a remarkable increase in unspecified peat production, surging from 23 thousand metric tons in 2019 to 160 thousand metric tons in 2023. Overall, world peat production has declined from 28,000 thousand metric tons in 2019 to an estimated 22,100 thousand metric tons in 2023, with fuel use decreasing substantially and horticultural use remaining relatively stable. These shifts reflect changing energy policies, environmental considerations, and evolving market demands across different regions.
| TABLE 10 | |||||||||||
| PEAT: WORLD PRODUCTION, BY COUNTRY OR LOCALITY1 | |||||||||||
| (Thousand metric tons) | |||||||||||
| Country or locality2 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | ||||||
| Argentina, horticultural use, turba | 9 | 10 | e | 10 | e | 10 | e | 10 | e | ||
| Belarus: | |||||||||||
| Fuel use | 2269.4 | 1578 | 1489 | 2100 | r, e | 1900 | e | ||||
| Horticultural use | 291 | 295 | 234 | 300 | e | 300 | e | ||||
| Total | 2560 | 1873 | 1723 | 2400 | r, e | 2200 | e | ||||
| Burundi, fuel use | 15 | 9 | 13 | r | 13 | r | 12 | ||||
| Canada, horticultural use | 1307 | 2165 | r | 2155 | r | 2254 | r | 3028 | |||
| Chile, horticultural use | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | ||||||
| Denmark, including sphagnum3 | 91 | 145 | 145 | 116 | 120 | e | |||||
| Estonia: | |||||||||||
| Fuel use | 56 | 88 | 34 | 34 | 50 | e | |||||
| Horticultural use | 1104 | 699 | 906 | 1107 | r | 1150 | e | ||||
| Total | 1160 | 787 | 940 | 1141 | r | 1200 | e | ||||
| Finland: | |||||||||||
| Fuel use4 | 10077 | 5735 | 2342 | 3146 | 3000 | e | |||||
| Horticultural uses5, 6 | 1763 | 2071 | 3083 | 2725 | 2500 | e | |||||
| Total | 11840 | 7806 | 5425 | 5871 | 5500 | e | |||||
| Germany, fuel use7 | 1540 | r | 1721 | r | 1771 | r | 1591 | r | 1716 | ||
| Hungary, horticultural use | 54 | 53 | 53 | 60 | r | 60 | e | ||||
| Ireland, fuel use | 1298 | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||||
| Latvia, horticultural and fuel uses | 1930 | 2069 | 2625 | 2448 | r | 2428 | |||||
| Lithuania: | |||||||||||
| Fuel use | 30 | 18 | 17 | 12 | 17 | ||||||
| Horticultural use | 425 | 434 | 462 | 461 | 377 | ||||||
| Total | 455 | 452 | 479 | 473 | 394 | ||||||
| Poland, horticultural and fuel uses | 958 | r | 1140 | r | 1032 | r | 890 | r | 846 | ||
| Russia, horticultural and fuel uses | 1071 | 1248 | 2100 | r | 1600 | r, e | 1600 | e | |||
| Rwanda, unspecified | 23 | e | 32 | e | 52 | e | 160 | r, e | 160 | e | |
| Spain, horticultural use | 80 | 86 | 85 | 85 | 85 | e | |||||
| Sweden: | |||||||||||
| Fuel use8 | 1124 | 624 | 349 | 237 | 222 | ||||||
| Horticultural use9 | 1407 | 1685 | 1966 | 2325 | 1594 | ||||||
| Total | 2531 | 2309 | 2315 | 2562 | 1816 | ||||||
| Turkey, unspecified | 60 | 177 | 115 | 177 | 148 | ||||||
| Ukraine: | |||||||||||
| Fuel use | 540 | 272 | 332 | 300 | e | 300 | e | ||||
| Horticultural use | 140 | 121 | 163 | 140 | e | 140 | e | ||||
| Total | 680 | 393 | 495 | 440 | e | 440 | e | ||||
| United States, horticultural use10 | 366 | 354 | 324 | 343 | 329 | ||||||
| Grand total | 28000 | r | 22800 | r | 21900 | r | 22600 | r | 22100 | ||
| Of which: | |||||||||||
| Fuel use | 16900 | r | 10000 | r | 6350 | r | 7430 | r | 7220 | ||
| Horticultural use | 6950 | 7980 | r | 9440 | r | 9810 | r | 9580 | |||
| Unspecified | 4130 | r | 4810 | r | 6070 | r | 5390 | r | 5300 | ||
eEstimated. rRevised. -- Zero.
1Table includes data available through October 7, 2024. All data are reported unless otherwise noted; totals may include estimated data. Grand totals and estimated data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown.
2In addition to the countries and (or) localities listed, Australia, Austria, Chile, Iceland, Italy, New Zealand, and Romania may have produced peat, but available information was inadequate to make reliable estimates of output.
3Unspecified use reported, in thousand cubic meters: 2019—103; 2020—165; 2021—165; and 2022—132. One cubic meter of peat equals 0.8806 metric ton.
4Reported fuel use, in thousand cubic meters: 2019—11,443; 2020—6,513; 2021—2,659; and 2022—3,572. One cubic meter of peat equals 0.8806 metric ton.
5Reported horticultural and environmental uses, in thousand cubic meters: 2019—2,002; 2020—2,352; 2021—3,501; and 2022—3,049. One cubic meter of peat equals 0.8806 metric ton.
6Includes peat used for animal bedding, insulations, soil improvement, composting additives, biostimulants, active carbon and biofilters, fibers, and composites.
7Reported energy use, in thousand cubic meters: 2019—3,080; 2020—3,442; 2021—3,542; 2022—3,182; and 2023—3,432. Reported density is one cubic meter of peat equals 0.5 metric ton.
8Reported fuel use, in thousand cubic meters: 2019—1,276; 2020—709; 2021—396; 2022—269 and 2023—252. One cubic meter of peat equals 0.8806 metric ton.
9Reported horticultural use, in thousand cubic meters: 2019—1,598; 2020—1,913; 2021—2,233; 2022—2,640; and 2023—1,809. One cubic meter of peat equals 0.8806 metric ton.
10Excludes peat extraction in Alaska for 2019–2022.
Source: United States Geological Survey Mineral Resources Program
See also: Peat statistics | Mineral commodity prices