PEAT

Peat is a natural organic material of botanical origin. Peatlands are situated predominately in shallow wetland areas of the Northern Hemisphere. Commercial deposits are formed from the gradual accumulation of plant matter that is partially decomposed under anaerobic conditions. In 2022, peat was known to be harvested in 11 conterminous states, with Florida, Michigan and Minnesota the leading producing states. Although peat has been produced in Alaska, the current status of operations is not known because the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys discontinued its survey of peat producers in Alaska. Production and foreign trade In 2022, domestic production of peat, excluding Alaska, was an estimated 340 kt, compared with the revised 324 kt in 2021. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, imports decreased by 12 percent to 1,440 kt in 2022 compared with 1,630 kt in 2021, and exports increased by 12 percent to 42 kt from 37 kt in 2021. U.S. apparent consumption for 2022 decreased by 14 percent to 1,700 kt compared with 1,970 kt in 2021 (Fig. 1). World production was an estimated 20 Mt in 2022. Reed-sedge peat comprised approximately 87 percent of the reported production in the United States, followed by sphagnum moss with 10 percent. More than 80 percent of all peat used in the United States was imported from Canada, which has extensive deposits of high-quality sphagnum moss. Deposits of sphagnum moss in the United States occur primarily in the northern states, with active operations in Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Pennsylvania and Washington. The permitting procedures for new peat operations have become increasingly time consuming and expensive, causing some companies to abandon harvesting and reducing the number of new fens and bogs brought into production. In addition, extensive areas of peatlands are in protected wetlands, parks or other natural areas that restrict commercial development. Consumption Demand for peat generally follows that of horticultural applications. Potting soil mixes and general soil improvement were the leading domestic end-use categories, accounting for about 90 percent of domestic peat sales. Sphagnum moss is preferred for custom soil mixes and for sale to retail consumers because of its more fibrous composition. More decomposed types of peat, such as reed-sedge or humus, are used primarily in bulk by commercial landscapers and on golf courses. In the industrial sector, peat was used as an oil absorbent and as an efficient filtration medium for the removal of waterborne contaminants in mine waste streams, municipal storm drainage and septic systems. Data for the end-use distribution of peat imported from Canada were unavailable, but the imported peat was sold both in bulk for soil blending and packaged for direct horticultural use. Packaged peat, regardless of origin, commanded a higher price than bulk sales. International events, trends and issues Finland, Germany, Sweden, Latvia, Belarus and Canada were the world’s top six leading peat producers, in descending order of production, based on estimated 2022 world production. Climate change concerns have prompted several countries to plan to decrease or eliminate the use of peat, owing to peatland’s ability to act as a carbon sink. Finland continued to make strides to reach its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2035. To achieve this, peat production was to be phased out in favor of other forms of noncarbon energy. In 2022, only about 14 percent of Finland’s energy consumption was supplied by peat and other fossil fuels. Restoration of peatlands in several European countries, including Belarus, Ireland and Sweden, were being planned or implemented to help combat greenhouse gas emissions and restore wildlife habitats. In August 2022, the United Kingdom announced a ban on peat sales to amateur gardeners by 2024 in an effort to protect peatlands. These initiatives were expected to decrease peat production across Europe in the future. Figure 1 U.S. production, imports and apparent consumption of peat, 2000–2022. Outlook Peatlands also are used for agriculture, forestry, recreation and wildlife management. Factors such as the growing interest in gardening, golf-course development, and landscaping related to residential use indicate that peat usage is likely to remain near current levels for the next several years. However, producers in the United States face increasing competition from imports of peat from Canada and alternative soil amendments, such as composted organic waste, coir (coconut fiber) and wood byproducts (for example, wood fiber and composted bark). The availability of alternative soil amendments as substitutes for peat will determine the future use of peat in different parts of the world. Peat production is expected to decrease across Europe during the coming years as peatland restoration efforts and use of alternative fuel sources increase.

PEAT

Authored by:
A.S. Brioche

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