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.
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EU committee mulls revised CO2 targets for cars, vans
EU committee mulls revised CO2 targets for cars, vans
Brussels, 2 June (Argus) — The European Parliament's environment committee today debated amending the EU's CO2 standards for passenger cars and vans to allow new vehicles powered exclusively by alternative fuels to be reclassified as zero-emission vehicles. The new vehicle category, proposed by Italian lawmaker Massimiliano Salini, received support from conservative and right-wing members. It would address a "flaw" in the current regulation, Salini said. EU law currently only allows for the sale of electric vehicles (EVs) as zero-emission from 2030 due to tailpipe approach to emissions. The alternative-fuel category would not normally achieve zero tailpipe emissions, Salini told the committee. "But they do ensure a carbon-neutral balance overall", he said. Centre-right EPP group member Salini's draft report aims also to raise the share of biofuels and e-fuels that carmakers can count towards fleet-wide CO2 reduction targets, increasing the limit from 3pc to 10pc. The text maintains low-carbon steel credits at up to 7pc. The environment committee is aiming to vote on its position on 4-5 November. Committee agreement typically requires support from the EPP group, the largest political group in parliament. "The EPP's intention is to find the majority in the centre," said German lawmaker Peter Liese, while noting that the "ban" on new car sales with internal combustion engines (ICE) from 2035 must be "abolished". "That must be the starting point of all negotiations," Liese said. Liese also called for e-fuels and biofuels to play a greater role. "It's true they are not 100pc climate neutral. But their contribution must be accepted as far as they are climate neutral," he said. "We need more technological neutrality," said Czech ECR conservative Alexandr Vondra, adding that targets for carmakers should be more "realistic". Vondra welcomed suggested amendments to cut the 2035 fleet-wide emissions-reduction targets for new light commercial vehicles from 100pc to 80pc. German Greens lawmaker Michael Bloss said high fuel prices are driving faster EV uptake , while ICE sales are falling. Bloss argued Salini's suggested flexibilities would lead to less investment. Bloss urged the committee to form compromises on the details around centre political groups. However, he said Salini's report seeks a right-wing majority. Passenger cars and vans are responsible for around 16pc and 3pc of the EU's total CO2 emissions, according to the European Commission. The EU has a net zero target for 2050, with interim targets of 55pc greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions for 2030 and a net GHG cut of 90pc for 2040, both from a 1990 baseline. By Dafydd ab Iago Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
US biodiesel output hits 16-month high: EPA
US biodiesel output hits 16-month high: EPA
Houston, 22 May (Argus) — US biodiesel production rose for the fourth straight month in April to its highest since December 2024, while renewable diesel output also grew, according to the latest Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) RIN generation data. April biodiesel production was 102,457 b/d, up by 15 pc from March and 28pc higher than April 2025. Renewable diesel production in April was reported at 151,214 b/d, up by 20pc from March and down by 2.2pc from April 2025. The industry is poised to continue increasing biodiesel output, with the US Department of Agriculture forecasting higher soybean oil use for biofuels earlier this month in its World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report. Biofuel mandates finalized in March by the EPA call for record-high biofuel blending with conventional motor fuel in the US, a bullish demand signal to biodiesel producers that is driving output higher. Some market participants appear to be turning to the global market in order to secure biodiesel for the first time in roughly a year. The tanker Eva Tokyo departed Europe last week laden with 144,559 bl of biodiesel, most of which was loaded at ADM Hamburg, according to vessel-tracking firm Kpler. The vessel is scheduled to discharge in Savannah, Georgia, on 1 June. By Thom Dwyer Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Q&A: Australia's ACCUs could support biofuels
Q&A: Australia's ACCUs could support biofuels
Sydney, 22 May (Argus) — Australian wood-fibre processor and exporter Midway was selected this week to lead the development of a new reforestation and afforestation carbon-crediting method that might include pongamia trees, which could lead to harvesting of oil seed to be used in biofuel production. Carbon projects manager John Lawson spoke with Argus on the sidelines of industry member organisation Carbon Market Institute's (CMI) Carbon Farming Forum in Fremantle, Western Australia, where assistant minister for climate change and energy Josh Wilson made the announcement . Edited highlights follow: What are the next steps and the expected timeline for this method development? We have a project team stood up and ready to go, and we have already started engaging a lot of industry expertise and interest to contribute to this through targeted input and workshops. We're meeting with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water next week to finalise what the specific milestones are for them and what they want to see, and then we'll be able to have a view as to what we think we can deliver. But we're targeting a 12-to-18-month timeline to get the method to a finalised state to the department. Is there any estimated carbon abatement potential for the method? Some of the work we need to do is to shore some of that up, as pongamia is a completely novel activity. It will depend a bit on how complex the method ends up being, and what the rules are. But a reasonable, conservative rule of thumb might be 100 [Australian Carbon Credit Units] (ACCUs) per hectare, and we've heard people talking about anywhere from 80,000 to 150,000 hectares as potential, which could see significant investment. So, we're talking about millions, if not tens of millions of potential [CO2] abatement. How different would it be from the expired reforestation and afforestation method? We're not proposing to change foundationally what the method is — that is, capturing the sequestered carbon in these forests. It's about creating more flexibility for plantation foresters by expanding what types of forests can be considered under the method to include seed oil crops and other harvest operations, and then have some corresponding changes to the abatement calculations. We're looking to try and simplify some of the measurement and verification approaches. There's potential to expand the type of both mixed species environmental plantings and commercial forestry species under this method. Importantly, this will also create opportunity for some of the activities previously under the farm forestry method, which sunset [in 2024] and wasn't remade. And how different would it be from the existing plantation forestry method? Foundationally, the activity wouldn't be any different, it's just adding a different measurement and verification avenue. Instead of having to use FullCam [Full Carbon Accounting Model] like you do in the current method, it would allow you to do a measurement-based, on-site process. It's important to note that we aren't coming into this presuming that we have all the answers already. What we gave the department is a clear policy position about what we thought the method could be, specifying three areas of focus: adding woody biomass from seed oil crops like pongamia; adding a measured version of plantation forestry; and what we've called a collection of general method improvements. Is pongamia the main driver behind this method? Pongamia seems to be the highest interest species, but that's not to say it's the only species that could be covered under the method. There are opportunities for other species as well. Our view is not to make this a Pongamia-specific activity, it's to make it specific to those types of seed oil crops. It's focused on woody species that support measurable sequestration in the way that the method currently does. The minister announced that Midway will be leading a consortium, but no names were publicly disclosed. How many companies are involved and what types of businesses they are? There's about a dozen companies. The types of businesses that are looking at this are largely emitters, from sectors like transport, mining, energy, LNG. There's very good interest as well from the forestry sector — many forestry developers were interested in providing support. This is a bit outside method development, but would the plan be processing the oil seed in Australia to produce biofuels like renewable diesel? What we're aware of from the people we've spoken to — and we obviously have our pilot project with Rio Tinto — is that the intention is for those seeds to be harvested and processed locally. Just to think about the supply chain logistics, it makes more sense to do that domestically. And there's certainly a lot of interest and need for biofuels in Australia to help with safeguard mechanism compliance , which is another great benefit of what we're proposing under the method. This is one way to capture and recognise real carbon sequestration that does exist in the trees, but it also commercially helps to fund these plantations that ultimately provide even greater benefit in reducing supply chain emissions through the biofuel from the oilseed — in the mining industry, or in large freight logistics, or other activities that have to switch from diesel and other fossil fuels. By Juan Weik Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
New EU UCO shipment rules take effect today
New EU UCO shipment rules take effect today
Amsterdam, 21 May (Argus) — The EU's revised Waste Shipment Regulation (WSR), Regulation (EU) 2024/1157, took effect today, introducing mandatory digital documentation requirements. A transitional phase will run until the end of 2026, resulting in a phased rollout of the bloc's new waste tracking system for flows including used cooking oil (UCO). The regulation, adopted by the European parliament and the council on 11 April 2024, sets out the content of the Annex VII document and the obligation to complete and retain it for shipments of waste listed in Annex III (the green list) intended for recovery. A central feature of the new framework is the move to electronic Annex VII documentation, with detailed technical rules set out in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1290, adopted in July 2025. From today, documentation must be created and exchanged electronically via the EU's Digital Waste Shipment System (DIWASS) or interconnected platforms. EU expert guidance from 27 March 2026 indicates a soft implementation phase. Annex VII documentation is expected to continue in paper-based or national electronic formats until the end of 2026, with no sanctions for failing to submit data via DIWASS during this period. Full operational use of the system is expected from January 2027. Shipments of non-hazardous green-listed waste, such as UCO for biofuel production, are still subject to Article 18 general information requirements rather than prior notification and consent procedures. These shipments must include the standard Annex VII document, ensuring full visibility of the shipment chain. Market participants said the regime has tightened in practice, but they welcomed the improved traceability to help prevent potential fraud. Article 18 now places clear responsibility on all parties involved in a shipment, including collectors, traders, transporters, and receiving facilities, rather than primarily on the notifier. The updated framework also reinforces end-to-end traceability, allowing authorities to verify the origin, movement, and final treatment of waste streams. These changes extend compliance risk across the entire supply chain. By Anna Prokhorova Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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