Drax Group on Dec. 11 released a trading update, reporting the company has no near-term or medium-term plans to expand wood pellet production capacity. Work on the proposed 450,000-metric-ton-per-year pellet plant in Longview, Washington, will remain paused, according to the company.  In the medium term, Drax said its US wood pellet business is “well underpinned by sales into the U.K.” Drax’s Canadian business, primarily sells wood pellets into the Asian market, is expected to be more challenged, contributing to the company’s recent decision to close its facility in Williams Lake, British Columbia. “Against this backdrop the group does not currently expect to invest in additional capacity in the short to medium term,” Drax said. …The company also confirmed it is continuing to assess options for own-use and third-party sales, from existing and new markets, including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which could represent a major market opportunity from 2030 onwards.