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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US rail volumes log strong growth in August: AAR
US rail volumes log strong growth in August: AAR
Houston, 9 September (Argus) — US rail carload volumes rose in August to the highest level in nearly eight years while weekly rail traffic rose by nearly 14pc from a year earlier, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data. AAR attributed the increases to resilient US consumer demand, higher US manufacturing activity, and rising diesel costs, which have made rail shipments more cost-effective compared with competing transport options such as trucks. Class I railroads shipped 533,545 carloads and intermodal units over the week ended 5 September, up by 14pc compared with the same week last year, AAR said Wednesday. Weekly non-intermodal traffic averaged more than 235,000 railcars in August, the most since October 2019 and the eighth straight year-over-year gain. Railcar growth was broad-based and stretched across 15 of the 20 carload categories that the AAR tracks. On a monthly basis, Class I railroads shipped nearly 300,000 intermodal containers and trailers per week in August, up by more than 4pc from a year earlier and besting the previous record set in June. Combined US carload and intermodal volume in August was the most in nearly eight years, AAR said without providing specifics. Metallic ore shipments posted the biggest percentage gains in August, rising by 19pc from a year earlier, followed by a 16pc increase for coke, a nearly 16pc gain for lumber and wood products and a 9.1pc increase for petroleum products. Chemicals shipments logged the seventh increase in eight months and are on a record annual pace, the AAR said, driven in part to lower US natural gas prices that have incentivized output at petrochemical and other industrial plants. Shipments of grain and coal, the two biggest categories that Class I railroads haul by volume, diverged. Grain shipments grew by 7.8pc in August from a year earlier and were up for the tenth straight month, driven by strong grain exports. Coal volumes in August fell by 2pc from year-earlier levels and were down for the sixth straight month, AAR said. Coal has become a drag on overall rail volumes after driving growth earlier in 2026. Several Class I railroads have attributed falling coal volumes to lower natural gas prices and weaker utility demand. Railed coal traffic has fallen by more than 50pc over the past 20 years but remains the single highest-volume category for most US railroads, AAR said. AAR also pointed to falling inventories of railcars in storage as another sign of strong shipping demand. Stored railcars as a share of total cars in service fell to 18.1pc in August from 21.7pc in January, and more than 59,000 railcars have been taken out of storage over that period, AAR said. By Chris Baltimore Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Final 2026 nEZ auction heavily oversubscribed
Final 2026 nEZ auction heavily oversubscribed
Hamburg, 9 September (Argus) — The final auction for German 2026 national emissions certificates (nEZ) today, 9 September drew bids far exceeding available volumes. Market participants are now shifting their focus to the secondary market and the supplementary purchase phase starting in November. A total of 110 participants bid for 496,856,346 nEZ at €65 each. Only 10,682,308 certificates were allocated, leaving the allocation rate virtually unchanged at just over 2pc. Many entities obligated under Germany's Fuel Emissions Trading Act (BEHG) have still been unable to secure enough certificates to meet compliance requirements after the auction. These companies must now either buy nEZ on the secondary market or acquire extra certificates from November at the fixed price of €68/nEZ. Supply on the secondary market remains very limited, according to market participants. Most auction participants with compliance obligations under the BEHG have generally not yet met those obligations. As a result, the main sellers are typically firms that bought nEZ solely for resale at a profit. Offer prices are generally quoted at €66.50-67.50/nEZ. By Johannes Guhlke Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Asia marine biodiesel demand remains muted
Asia marine biodiesel demand remains muted
Singapore, 8 September (Argus) — Asia's marine biodiesel market remains subdued as uncertainty over the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) greenhouse gas framework continues to weigh on demand, participants said at the Argus Future Fuels Forum on 7 September. Buyers have shown limited interest outside compliance requirements, while renewable fuel flows have increasingly shifted to Europe, where demand remains stronger, participants said. Market participants said trading activity has been limited in recent months. The market is undergoing a correction in 2026, as optimism surrounding potential IMO regulations has faded, a market participant said. Those expectations drew many companies into biofuels, although demand failed to match the hype. Sentiment at the forum aligned with recent market conditions, and buyers had little incentive to purchase cargoes unless there are compliance-driven requirements. The shift has been reflected in bunker demand data. Rotterdam's marine biodiesel blend sales exceeded Singapore's in the second quarter , marking the first time this has occurred since the EU imposed anti-dumping duties on Chinese-origin biodiesel in the third quarter of 2024. Participants attributed the shift to firmer compliance-led demand in Europe and much weaker activity in Asia. Prices on 7 September reflected broader strength in conventional fuel markets rather than improvements in biofuel demand. Singapore B24 was assessed at $993-1,003/t delivered on board (dob) and B30 at $1,032-1,042/t dob, supported by stronger crude and conventional fuel oil cargo values. Delivered premiums fell by $10/t to $232-242/t for B24 and $271-281/t for B30, reflecting softer market indications and lower bid levels that were seen last week. Premiums have generally eased in recent months, while spot buying interest has been limited. Demand for cargoes from the region has also been weak. Forum participants also highlighted the growing competition for feedstocks as a longer-term risk. Expanding sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) production will increasingly compete for waste-based feedstocks such as used cooking oil (UCO), which are also widely consumed by marine biodiesel producers. Europe remained the dominant SAF demand centre, while Asia is expected to account for a share of future demand growth, potentially tightening regional feedstock balances. Participants broadly agreed that feedstock security and policy certainty will be key to supporting future marine biodiesel demand growth in Asia. By Shyla Bector Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Brazil's August soybean oil exports rise 31pc
Brazil's August soybean oil exports rise 31pc
Sao Paulo, 4 September (Argus) — Brazil's August soybean oil exports increased by 31pc from a year earlier to nearly 206,648 metric tonnes (t), driven by stronger Indian demand. January-August exports increased by 42pc from a year earlier to around 1.57mn t. India was the leading destination, accounting for nearly 176,683t, or 85pc of total Brazilian soybean oil exports in August. Increased international demand for Brazilian soybean oil comes as buyers switch to soybean oil cargos after palm oil prices surged following higher biodiesel blending mandates in Indonesia and Malaysia. This brought Latin American soybean oil into focus among Asian vegetable oil importers. At this rate, Brazil's soybean oil shipments could reach 2mn t in 2026, according to grain processing companies' estimates, higher than the 1.7mn t projected from Brazil's association of vegetable oil industries Abiove. Beef tallow exports Brazil's August tallow exports fell by approximately 37pc year-on-year to 40,600t. January-August exports dropped by 35pc from the same period in 2025 to around 231,800t. The decline was largely driven lower volumes to the US, the main overseas destination for Brazil's beef tallow. Higher tariffs and uncertainty over trade policy have reduced buying interest and disrupted established trade flows. Market participants expect exports of beef tallow to decline further in the coming months, as most of the volumes shipped recently were negotiated before the new tariffs imposed by the administration of US president Donald Trump took effect. The limited quantities still expected to be exported to the US are likely to move under duty drawback provisions, which allow tariffs paid on imported inputs to be refunded under certain conditions. Biodiesel exports Brazil exported approximately 7,400t of biodiesel in August, down by 45pc from the same month a year earlier. Cumulative exports for January-August totaled about 73,130t, up by 6pc from the corresponding period in 2025. Monthly export volumes are driven not only by overseas demand and arbitrage opportunities, but also by the availability of biodiesel produced from low-carbon feedstocks. This is particularly important for Europe, the primary destination for Brazilian biodiesel exports, where fuel must meet sustainability criteria to qualify for greenhouse gas reduction credits and other renewable fuel incentives. By Beatriz Pacheco and Natalia Dalle Cort Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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