Abstract: Briquetting is one of the important utilization routes for agricultural and forestry residues. The objective of this paper is to explore the development status of biomass briquetting fuel (BBF) in China in 2010, especially those made from agricultural and forestry residues. Biomass briquetting technology in China was firstly discussed. The agricultural and forestry residue resources in China and their energy potential were analyzed. And the development situation of BBF in each part of China was evaluated based on market analysis and strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats (SWOT) analysis. The market analysis shows that main agricultural residues and a lot of forestry residues in China are good feedstock for BBF and they represent an enormous energy potential. The status of BBF market is better in Central, East, South, North and Northeast than other areas in China. The SWOT analysis indicates that the status of BBF will become better in China if the briquetting technology and BBF combustion technology are further developed and improved; more effective supporting policies are given to the BBF industry; more demonstration plants for BBF production are set up; the environmental awareness is streng-thened and coal combustion is restricted.

Key words: biomass briquetting fuel (BBF), market analysis, SWOT analysis