RISI and Pellet Fuels Institute announce development of "RISI and PFI Pellet Manufacturing Survey"

BOSTON, MA, March 31, 2011 (PRNewswire) -

RISI, the leading information provider for the global forest products industry, today announced a collaboration with the Pellet Fuels Institute (PFI), whose mission is to promote energy independence through the efficient use of clean, renewable, densified biomass fuel. As part of this initiative, RISI will conduct a monthly North American pellet survey of prices, production, fiber sourcing, inventories and end-use markets. This survey will be sent to all existing PFI members. RISI will collect and aggregate the information returned as part of the survey and the findings will be made available to participating PFI members. The RISI and PFI Pellet Manufacturing Survey is the first comprehensive survey of its kind in North America.

"PFI is a natural choice for this effort," according to Ray Barbee, Senior Vice President & GM of RISI's Wood Products, Timber & Bioenergy division. "Being one of the largest trade associations for the North American Pellet industry, and with over 120 member companies, PFI is the ideal association to collaborate with to produce this important and needed industry information," he said. "We couldn't be happier to be associated with them."

Don Kaiser, Executive Director of the Pellet Fuels Institute added, "Both RISI and the PFI have long recognized that there is a need for the information that will be provided through this survey. RISI's expertise and reputation for accuracy and integrity make them the ideal partner for developing this survey." He continued, "We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with RISI."

RISI will begin surveying participants for the RISI and PFI Pellet Manufacturing Survey in April 2011. To learn more about this survey, or to participate, please contact Seth Walker, Bioenergy Analyst at swalker@risi.com or 781.734.8992.