To introduce application status and illustrate the good utilisation potential of biomass pyrolytic polygeneration using retort reactors, the properties of major products and the economic viability of commercial factories were investigated. The capacity of one factory was about 3000 t of biomass per year, which was converted into 1000 t of charcoal, 950,000 Nm(3) of biogas, 270 t of woody tar, and 950 t of woody vinegar. Charcoal and fuel gas had LHV of 31 MJ/kg and 12 MJ/m(3), respectively, indicating their potential for use as commercial fuels. The woody tar was rich in phenols, while woody vinegar contained large quantities of water and acetic acid. The economic analysis showed that the factory using this technology could be profitable, and the initial investment could be recouped over the factory lifetime. This technology offered a promising means of converting abundant agricultural biomass into high-value products. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.