Peat is a natural and renewable organic material that is grown in shallow wetlands, primarily in the Northern Hemisphere. It is used widely as a plant-growth medium because of its unusual ability to both retain water and promote drainage. Peat also has industrial uses as a filtration medium to remove toxins in water processing and as an effective absorbent used in the clean-up of fuel and oil spills.

Today’s market size is the estimated f.o.b. plant value of marketable peat from plants in the United States. The graphic provides a look at peat production and consumption over a thirty year period, from 1980 to 2010.

Geographic reference: United States
Year: 2010
Market size: $16 million
Source: “Peat, Statistics and Information,” Mineral Industry Survey, a series of reports produced by the U.S.Geological Survey, made available online and last updated on May 19, 2011. Here is a link to the USGS site.
Original source: U.S. Department of the Interior, USGS