In this study, the relationship between calorific value and elementary composition of torrefied oil palm wastes (empty fruit bunches, mesocarp fiber and kernel shell) and other lignocellulosic biomass is discussed. Several correlations for calorific value vs. elementary composition for biomass were examined for their applicability to torrefied lignocellulosic biomass. One of the correlations was selected as the most appropriate for the purpose, based on average absolute error between observed and estimated calorific values. In addition, the triangle plot of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen contents in untreated and pyrolyzed biomass is proposed as an appropriate tool for discussing biomass decomposition behavior. © 2010 Asian Network for Scientific Information.