Biofuels and feedstocks
Overview
Demand for biofuels is increasing significantly, driven by the need to decarbonise road transport as part of the energy transition. Global biofuels output is expected to rise by more than 3mn b/d in the next five years, and such rapid growth means that new challenges and opportunities are constantly emerging. Keeping on top of the ever-changing biofuels landscape requires accurate pricing, insightful analysis and access to the latest data.
The Argus biofuels solution provides in-depth pricing and market analysis across the entire global renewable fuel supply chain, from original feedstock to finished fuel, with prices and key insights into regional biodiesel, ethanol and feedstock markets.
Latest biofuels news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global biofuels industry.
South Korea’s SK exports first 2025 HVO cargo in June
South Korea’s SK exports first 2025 HVO cargo in June
Singapore, 17 July (Argus) — South Korean refiner SK Energy exported what is likely its first hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) cargo this year in June, which due to reach Europe in August. SK Energy exported around 5,000-6,000t of co-processed HVO in early June, said a source close to the company and traders. This was confirmed by Kpler data. The cargo loaded from SK Energy's Ulsan refinery on the vessel Solar Susie on 8 June. The refiner's last HVO export was 5,000t in December 2024, making this the first HVO cargo in 2025, according to Kpler . The Solar Susie subsequently loaded 27,700t of HVO from Incheon around 15-16 June, which is due to reach Europe in mid-August, vessel lineups and Kpler data also show. The cargo's price could not be confirmed. But European HVO prices have been rising since end-May. The fob Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) Class II HVO price reached a seven-month high of $2,216/t on 20 June, before easing to $2,124/t on 16 July. HVO consumption in northwest Europe could even reach record-highs in 2026 , given stricter biofuel mandates and as suppliers shift away from conventional biodiesel to meet EU targets. SK Energy started sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production at Ulsan in 2024 and exported its first SAF cargo to Europe in January . It also has an agreement with Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific to supply at least 20,000t of SAF by 2027. By Sarah Giam Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Singapore holds safety drill for methanol bunkering
Singapore holds safety drill for methanol bunkering
Shanghai, 17 July (Argus) — Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) conducted a large-scale chemical spill drill simulating a methanol leak on 15 July, ahead of the upcoming issuance of the first batch of methanol bunkering licences. This exercise tested safety protocols and emerging technologies, MPA said in a release on 15 July. The drill involved 11 vessels and over 150 personnel from more than 10 government agencies and industry stakeholders. The simulation was conducted off Singapore's southern coast and aimed to validate operational readiness ahead of commercial-scale methanol bunkering activity. The MPA is currently evaluating 13 applications for its first methanol bunkering licences following an open call in March, it said in the release. The five-year licence, valid over 1 January 2026-31 December 2030, will be issued to firms meeting stringent criteria, particularly on bunkering safety and operational readiness. MPA also plans to issue the licences in the fourth quarter of 2025, it said in the release. Only three to four bunker suppliers may be awarded, and prospective applicants are actively preparing for bunkering trials to increase their success rate, market sources said. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
US investigates Brazil barriers to US ethanol
US investigates Brazil barriers to US ethanol
Houston, 16 July (Argus) — The US Trade Representative (USTR) has launched an investigation into Brazilian trade practices that include import barriers against US ethanol. The USTR investigation will look at Brazilian trade barriers that US ambassador Jamieson Greer claims "restrict the ability of US exporters to access its market." "Brazil's tariff and non-tariff barriers merit a thorough investigation, and potentially, responsive action," he said. The notice for the investigation said US ethanol producers are unfairly affected by an 18pc tariff that Brazil imposes on US ethanol exports. The US and Brazil are the two largest ethanol-producing countries, combining for 52pc and 28pc of global production, respectively, according to data from the Renewable Fuels Association, an ethanol trade group. US exports to Brazil averaged 3,800 b/d, or just 2.7pc of overall US exports from January to May, according to US Department of Agriculture data. Exports to Brazil in 2024 were valued at $53mn, down from a peak of $761mn in 2018, according to the investigation notice. The US imported just 491 b/d from Brazil during the first five months of the year, equivalent to 81pc of total ethanol imports. The US imposes a combined 12.5pc tariff on Brazilian ethanol, which includes the blanket 10pc tariff announced in April and the existing 2.5pc duty. Growth Energy, another US ethanol trade organization, applauded the investigation. "Today's action by USTR is a sign that the old days of Brazil enjoying unfettered access to the US ethanol market while unfairly putting a tariff on American ethanol imports could soon come to an end," chief executive Emily Skor said. US President Donald Trump's administration earlier this year specifically noted Brazilian trade barriers against US ethanol as unfair and worth addressing. Trump has recently threatened to impose a 50pc tariff on Brazilian imports starting 1 August, but tied those threats to the country's prosecution of former president Jair Bolsonaro for trying to overthrow elections in 2022. The Trump administration has discouraged Brazilian ethanol imports in other ways, including by proposing to revamp a long-running biofuel blend mandate by reducing lucrative credits for fuels made abroad. Last year, the Renewable Fuels Association and Growth Energy threatened to not cooperate with Brazil on ethanol or sustainable aviation fuel partnerships if the country did not eliminate the tariff. Reducing trade barriers in Brazil has been a longtime priority for the US ethanol lobby, which sees the potential to compete more in Brazil's Renovabio biofuel program. USTR will accept comments through 18 August with a hearing for the investigation scheduled for 3 September. By Payne Williams Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
US refiners lobby to revive expired biofuel credits
US refiners lobby to revive expired biofuel credits
New York, 16 July (Argus) — A group of small oil refiners asked US officials at a recent meeting to not just grant exemptions from years-old biofuel blend mandates but to also provide lucrative program credits they can sell to other companies. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed record-high biofuel blend mandates for the next two years, but farm groups fear that a backlog of exemption requests threaten those targets. There are more than 180 unresolved exemption requests stretching over 10 years after courts struck down various denials during former-president Joe Biden's term. Under the Renewable Fuel Standard, oil refiners and importers must annually blend biofuels or buy Renewable Identification Number (RIN) credits from those that do. But refiners that process 75,000 b/d or less of crude and can prove "disproportionate economic hardship" are able to request full exemptions which can mean tens of millions of dollars in reduced compliance costs. In a 20 May meeting with EPA officials, a coalition of small refiners made the case that President Donald Trump's administration should not just grant broad relief from 2019-2022 mandates but also issue "replacement RINs" for any refiners that already complied. EPA should issue these RINs "with adequate lead time" before compliance deadlines and ensure they have "adequate shelf life", according to a proposal shared with EPA by a coalition lawyer and obtained by Argus through a Freedom of Information Act request. The agency should even consider giving companies more credits than they submitted if RINs are cheaper now, the group argued. RINs from those years are otherwise expired and would be useless if returned as is. "Hardship relief is more critical now than ever", the group of 14 companies argues, given rising biofuel quotas. The issue is politically tricky for EPA, since widespread waivers threaten biofuel and crop demand, and has been the subject of numerous court fights over the years. The first Trump administration handed out exemptions generously , but current officials have not yet staked out a clear position. EPA told Argus it is taking steps "to reduce the backlog as soon as possible". Living RIN the past EPA could potentially return credits on a staggered timeline or impose conditions on their use to avert market turmoil, according to lawyers and lobbyists experienced in waiver issues. The proposal alludes to this, noting however that "any conditions on RIN return that are intended to address potential market reactions must strike the appropriate balance to ensure flexibility to small refineries". Biofuel groups have lobbied against retroactive waivers but said that EPA could minimize the damage by making other oil companies blend more biofuels. The agency should ensure that any exemptions "will be made up in the market", said Emily Skor, president of ethanol lobby Growth Energy, at a hearing last week. But the refiners' proposal argues that EPA is not required to do so if it grants exemptions retroactively. The agency has estimated future exemptions when calculating the percentage of biofuels individual refiners must blend — frustrating large producers that then shoulder more of the burden of meeting high-level targets — but doing the same with past-year waivers is more legally risky. The small refiners float a less aggressive approach for other compliance years. The proposal notably makes no reference to petitions for relief from 2016-2018 quotas. EPA under Biden rejected 31 petitions for those years but did not require companies to surrender additional RINs, potentially making any push for extra relief a tougher sell despite courts' skepticism of the underlying denials. And for 2023 and beyond, the refiners say that EPA should rely on "merit-driven scoring". EPA already consults with the Department of Energy, which scores hardship for individual applicants, though the importance of this feedback has varied over the program's history. The coalition also wants EPA to rescind three 2023 compliance year denials issued during the final days of Biden's term, which affected two Calumet refineries and one CVR Energy refinery. RINto the future The coalition's proposal is notable since small refiners — apart from a handful recently calling for a "seat at the table" — have largely not publicized their asks of the Trump administration, leading traders to speculate wildly on policy shifts. RIN prices have been volatile as a result. The coalition includes 14 companies that submitted 41 petitions that courts have told EPA to reconsider as well as 37 requests for more recent years, the proposal says. They are represented by independent attorney Claudia O'Brien, who did not respond to a request for comment. The documents obtained by Argus do not list all companies involved in the effort, but lawyers for Calumet, Par Pacific and Placid Refining were scheduled to attend the May meeting in person with top EPA appointees Aaron Szabo and Alexander Dominguez, while others attended virtually. O'Brien said in a separate email that Hunt Refining, REH Company, and Ergon were part of the coalition. The policy requests represent the position of one group and not necessarily all 34 refineries EPA estimates are eligible for future waivers. It is not clear how officials responded at the meeting or what options they are weighing now. EPA wants to finalize new blend mandates before November and has said it plans to communicate its approach to exemptions beforehand. By Cole Martin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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