The MC (moisture content) and HHV (higher heating value) of Leucaena leucocephala pellets using NIR (near infrared) spectroscopy was investigated in this study. The MC of the pellets was adjusted by subjecting the samples to different relative humidity environments. The samples were scanned in diffuse reflection mode at wavenumbers of 12,500-4000 cm(-1). Partial least squares regression models correlating the MC and HHV with the NIR spectra were developed and validated by full cross validation. The model for MC and HHV provided coefficients of determination (R-2) of 0.995 and 0.964, a root mean square error of cross validation (RMSECV) of 0.187%wb and 79.2 J g(-1), bias of -0.0008%wb and 1.29 J g(-1) and a RPD (ratio of prediction to deviation) of 13.9 and 530, respectively. The models had excellent accuracy. This rapid quality evaluation method may be used for trading of biomass pellets. An equation related MC and HHV was also developed. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.