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.
Biofuels market intelligence
Learn more about how Argus provides transparency into the global biofuels markets to help you make confident, informed decisions
Latest biofuels news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global biofuels industry.
Brazil’s inflation slows to 4.44pc in July
Brazil’s inflation slows to 4.44pc in July
Sao Paulo, 11 August (Argus) — Brazil's inflation slowed to an annual 4.44pc in July, with lower housing costs helping to offset higher electricity bills. The consumer price index IPCA decelerated from 4.64pc in June and 4.72pc in May, national statistics agency IBGE said on Tuesday. The latest decline puts inflation within the central bank's target range of 1.50-4.50pc. Food and beverage costs, which weigh heavily on the index, contributed the most to the monthly deceleration in the IPCA, decelerating to an annual 3.4pc in July from 3.82pc in June. Lower prices for coffee, fruits and vegetables largely drove the declines, IBGE said. Housing costs was the largest monthly contributors to the gain in the index in July, with its inflation accelerating to an annual 5.93pc from 5.85pc a month earlier, mostly thanks to electricity bills and tax readjustments for power supply in some southern states. Transport costs slowed to an annual 3.64pc in July from 3.95pc in June. Lower prices for ethanol, diesel, gasoline and compressed natural gas weighed on motor fuel costs, despite an increase in airfares The annual gain for July was down from 5.23pc in July 2025 . The central bank expects inflation to end 2026 at 5.03pc, above its 1.5-4.5pc expected range. It also expects inflation at 4.22pc for 2027 and 3.8pc for 2028. Brazil's central bank lowered its target rate to 14pc in its latest meeting , held last month, a fourth such quarter point cut since March after holding it at 15pc since mid-2025 to stem inflation. By Mariana Funchal Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Q&A: Flexibility key for Canadian SAF+ IG’s e-SAF plans
Q&A: Flexibility key for Canadian SAF+ IG’s e-SAF plans
Paris, 11 August (Argus) — Canadian developer SAF+ International Group (SAF+ IG) is planning to produce synthetic aviation fuel (e-SAF) at a first commercial-scale plant, at Port-la-Nouvelle in southern France, following completion of a demonstration project in Montreal. The company is open to sourcing renewable hydrogen and carbon from non-conventional sources to ensure a cost-competitive final product. Argus spoke to chief executive Pierre Gonthier about the company's strategy, investment in the French plant, and the market outlook. Edited highlights below: What is SAF+ IG's background and why are you focusing on e-SAF production? SAF+ International Group was founded in Canada in 2019. We received seed funding through a programme run by Natural Resources Canada, which aimed to demonstrate both the technical and commercial viability of SAF production. We were one of five selected finalists, each pursuing different SAF pathways — some companies would focus on production from waste, others from forestry residues. From the outset, we decided to focus exclusively on e-SAF. We had access to carbon capture facilities in Quebec and identified production of synthetic kerosene as one of the most promising uses of captured CO2. In 2021, we built and operated a pilot plant in Montreal, successfully producing synthetic kerosene. Our view is that e-SAF represents the long-term future of aviation decarbonisation. While bio-based SAF pathways are important, there will not be enough sustainable biomass feedstock available to decarbonise aviation at scale. With the first commercial plant, is Europe your main target market? Our original plan was to build our first commercial plant in Quebec because the province had abundant hydroelectricity and significant power surpluses. However, provincial policy shifted toward using those surpluses to attract investment in other industries rather than prioritising industrial decarbonisation. As a result, we began looking more closely at Europe in 2022, as the ReFuelEU Aviation framework was taking shape. We established a French subsidiary in 2023 and have since focused on identifying a suitable site for our first commercial-scale project. Earlier this year, we selected a site in Port-la-Nouvelle and signed a land reservation agreement. We already had technology agreements in place with Topsoe and Sasol, and are now preparing to move into front-end engineering design (Feed) studies. SAF+ IG is collaborating with direct ocean capture firm Captura and subsurface hydrogen company Vema . What drives you to pursue these partnerships? We deliberately chose to focus on the fuel-conversion process rather than hydrogen production, renewable power generation, or carbon capture itself. That means we are technology-agnostic when sourcing CO2 and hydrogen. We will consider any solution capable of delivering the required volumes at the right price and in compliance with regulatory requirements. Many competing developers originate from the renewable energy or hydrogen sectors, which can limit flexibility because they are tied to specific technologies or assets. Our approach allows us to select the most competitive combination of feedstock suppliers and technologies for each project. The Port-la-Nouvelle site illustrates this strategy well. It is a major logistics hub with access to maritime transport, pipelines and rail infrastructure, providing multiple options for future hydrogen and CO2 supply chains. Can you provide more details on the Port-la-Nouvelle plans? We are working with an investment firm on a series A fundraising round to finance the Feed studies. We expect investor syndication to begin shortly, and we have already seen strong interest from potential investors. The project will occupy around 10 hectares and resemble a conventional petrochemicals facility in terms of engineering complexity. It will include reactors, pressure vessels, piping, electrical systems and process-control equipment. We estimate production of around 75,000 t/yr. Based on current engineering work, we estimate capital expenditure at around €700mn. But at this stage, the estimate carries a margin of error of roughly 30pc. The Feed studies will provide a much more precise assessment. Does the project include on-site hydrogen production? Not necessarily. We plan to source hydrogen externally and have it delivered to the plant. Hydrogen can be produced in different areas, and could be delivered by sea, or carried in a pipeline. From our perspective, suppliers need to provide hydrogen ‘over the fence' in a suitable condition for use in our facility. The key requirement is that the hydrogen complies with EU renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBOs) and revised renewable energy directive criteria. And it is important that it is at a price that allows us to be competitive in the e-SAF market. Which e-SAF production pathway are you pursuing? We are focused on the Fischer-Tropsch synthetic paraffinic kerosene (FT-SPK) pathway. We do not pursue methanol-to-jet or ethanol-to-jet pathways because we believe FT-SPK is currently the most mature and efficient route in terms of energy use and hydrogen consumption. What are the main challenges facing e-SAF developers today? The biggest challenge is reaching a final investment decision. Developers must convince investors to commit substantial capital to large, first-of-a-kind facilities. Investors need confidence that feedstocks will be available, demand will exist, and that the final product can be sold profitably over the long term. The market remains cautious. Various support mechanisms are being discussed, including the EU's proposed double-auction system, but developers still face uncertainty regarding policy stability and project economics. Long term, bankable offtake agreements are critical because these facilities require investment horizons of 10 to 15 years. While being a first mover presents opportunities, it also means carrying a large portion of the technology and market risk. What is your market outlook for the coming years? I see 2027 as a pivotal year. By then, the policy framework and market support mechanisms need to be sufficiently developed to allow projects to move forward. By 2030, when mandates begin taking effect under ReFuelEU Aviation, operational e-SAF plants will need to be supplying the market. Otherwise, airlines and airports will face compliance requirements without having adequate fuel available. What is the opportunity for newer companies like SAF+ IG in the SAF space? One interesting aspect of this market is that many major oil companies have not yet aggressively pursued SAF or e-SAF development. Their absence has created opportunities for smaller, innovative companies like ours. At the same time, it raises an important question about why large, well-capitalised refiners have chosen not to move more aggressively into greenfield e-SAF projects. One reason may be that traditional refiners are focused on extending the value of existing assets rather than building entirely new facilities. Co-processing offers an attractive option because existing refineries can be modified to produce SAF with relatively modest investment, compared with constructing dedicated e-SAF plants. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Northern US drought cuts into crop outlook
Northern US drought cuts into crop outlook
St Louis, 10 August (Argus) — Crop conditions across corn, soybeans and wheat all fell during the week in the northern portion of the US Corn Belt as drought conditions intensified, according to US Department of Agriculture (USDA) data. The crop rating for corn fell from the Dakota's through Michigan during the week, and south into Iowa for the first time this season. In Iowa, 78pc of the crop was rated in good-to-excellent condition as of 9 August, falling by two percentage points from the prior week, and eight points below the previous year. In Wisconsin and North Dakota, the share of the crop in good-to-excellent condition fell by 10 points from the prior week. Both states have declined significantly since the middle of July, falling in Wisconsin from 83pc in good-to-excellent condition as of 12 July to 69pc as of 9 August. And the North Dakota corn crop fell from 71pc to 27pc in good-to-excellent condition during the same period. The soybean crop rating in North Dakota fell by 13 points during the week to 31pc in good-to-excellent condition. The outlook for the soybean crop was reduced further south in the US as well, with both Iowa and Missouri falling from the previous week by one and two points, respectively. The spring wheat crop outlook was reduced in Montana, as well as the Dakota's and Minnesota. While both North Dakota and South Dakota continued to pull below both last year's level — and the five-year-average ratings for the two states — the spring wheat outlook for both Montana and Minnesota remained positive, despite the drop. North Dakota was reported at 44pc in good-to-excellent condition, 11 points below the five-year average for the state. South Dakota was rated at 41pc, two points below the five-year average. Minnesota's spring wheat crop was reported at 88pc in good-to-excellent condition, 25 points above the five-year average, while Montana was 50pc in good-to-excellent condition, ahead of its five-year average by 22 points. Nationally the corn crop remained at 61pc in good-to-excellent condition, as slight improvements across the central Corn Belt, offset the declining quality of the northern portion crop. Soybeans fell by one point from the prior week to 6pc and spring wheat fell by four points to reach 51pc in good-to-excellent conditions. With the first week of August, both the corn and soybean crops have mostly moved past their pollination phases, with corn silking 94pc complete, and soybean blooming 93pc complete. Corn's grain filling phase was progressing slightly ahead of normal, with 61pc of the crop in the dough stage, six points ahead of the five-year average. Similarly, 74pc of the soybean crop was in the pod setting phase, five points ahead of the five-year average. The spring wheat crop has also developed more quickly this year, with 24pc of the crop harvested as of 9 August, five points ahead of the five-year average pace. By Ryan Koory Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Rhine oil traffic stops as water still dropping: Update
Rhine oil traffic stops as water still dropping: Update
Updates throughout Hamburg, 10 August (Argus) — Barge traffic along the River Rhine has largely come to a standstill, disrupting oil product supply in western Germany, barge operators said. Several terminals on the Lower Rhine will be cut off from barge traffic towards the end of the week. The gauge at the key Kaub bottleneck reached a new record low over the weekend, at 17cm. The federal waterways and shipping administration expects it to fall to as little as 4cm by 14 August, making Kaub practically impassable. Historically low levels have already slashed the number of barges able to pass Kaub, and the loads they can carry without running aground. A German shipowner said last week when levels had reached 23cm that a vessel with a maximum capacity of 1,200t can only carry 180t, and that the voyage to Karlsruhe from the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) hub now takes five days instead of two. Specialised vessels, which are wider and longer but draw less water, can carry a maximum of 700t. The federal waterways and shipping administration also said the water level in Cologne stood at just under 60cm today. Most inland vessel fleets require water levels of around 1m to reach the loading terminals at Cologne Molenkopf, Cologne-Niehl, Godorf and Wesseling, shipping companies said. This threshold was breached at the end of July, and water levels are forecast to fall further to as low as 40cm by mid-month. Loading terminals in western Germany, including Neuss, Duisburg and nearby Bendorf, may also become inaccessible during the week ending 14 August, shipowners said. German policymakers have introduced emergency measures to ease growing logistical constraints along the river. The federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Lower Saxony and Saarland have temporarily lifted restrictions on truck traffic on Sundays and public holidays. But it remains unclear whether the oil product sector will benefit from these steps. Replacing a fully loaded barge carrying 2,400t of diesel would require almost 89 road tankers, each with a capacity of 32m³. Fuel traders also report that their tanker fleets are already running above normal utilisation levels because of longer hauls to more competitively priced loading terminals. Product availability in western Germany, especially for road fuels, has tightened in recent weeks, traders said. Many traders that usually buy at tank farms along the Rhine are diverting to the Miro consortium's 310,000 b/d Karlsruhe refinery in southwestern Germany. But supply in southern Germany has also fallen after a leak at a mild hydrocracker at the Bayernoil consortium's 207,000 b/d Vohburg-Neustadt refinery prompted two local suppliers to pull supply from the spot market on 7 August. The restrictions are likely to last a week. By Natalie Müller and Johannes Guhlke Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Spotlight content
Browse the latest thought leadership produced by our global team of experts.
Explore our biofuels products
Key price assessments
Argus prices are recognised by the market as trusted and reliable indicators of the real market value. Explore some of our most widely used and relevant price assessments.
