Used cooking oil can be refined into fuel such as biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel, which can be blended with conventional fuel to reduce carbon emissions.  |  Reuters/Emily Chow photo

China increases used cooking oil sales to U.S.

The surge in exports is a response to U.S. government incentives to boost the use of more environmentally friendly fuel

BEIJING, China (Reuters) — U.S. incentives to boost consumption of more environmentally friendly fuel has created a new market for used Chinese cooking oil, worth almost US$390 million in the last 12 months and growing rapidly, China’s customs data shows. China has been shipping more waste oil to the United States since October 2022, two […] Read more

A commercial fuel pump showing the label, "Biodiesel" on the fuel pump's nozzle.

Clean fuel regs backlash blamed on flawed assumption

Feds pressured to ‘rethink’ program, but biofuel sector points finger at faulty economic assessment that inflated costs

Advanced Biofuels Canada said Canada’s new Clean Fuel Regulations are unfairly under attack. “There is a massive pushback on the Clean Fuel Regulations based on highly inaccurate information,” said president Ian Thomson. The Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) released a report in May forecasting the impact of the CFR on average households. The report relies on […] Read more

Dry pet food in a scoop spills onto a weathered, wooden floor with a dog bowl full of the same dried food blurred in the background.

Animal fat demand squeezes pet food makers

Biofuel likes the attractive greenhouse gas emission reduction ratings, but stiffer competition alarms pet food industry

The biofuel sector is consuming more animal fats and that is creating stiff competition for the more traditional users of the product.






Recent changes in U.S. law will mean that Canadian producers who could once access a blender’s credit when selling their fuels into the U.S. market will no longer be eligible for the new producer’s credit. It will only apply to U.S.-based production.  | Reuters photo

Renewable fuel sector could be devastated

Canada’s biodiesel and renewable diesel sectors will be obliterated by a new subsidy program in the United States unless the Canadian government responds in kind, say two lobby groups. The industry suffered a huge blow last year when U.S. president Joe Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA). One of the […] Read more

Indonesia’s palm oil production is forecast to rise three percent to 48.1 million tonnes in 2023, and exports are forecast at 33.5 million tonnes, an eight percent increase. However, that would likely drop if the government followed through with its plan to increase the biodiesel mandate.  |  Reuters/Antara Foto Agency photo

Indonesia plans to boost biodiesel mandate to 35 percent

The higher mandate would likely increase palm oil use domestically and decrease the amount that the country exports

Rising biodiesel mandates around the world will help keep vegetable oil supplies tight in 2023. Indonesia has announced plans to implement a 35 percent mandate (B35) as early as January 2023, according to a Mecardo analysis that appeared on the UkrAgroConsult website. “This will increase domestic Indonesian palm oil demand, providing support for palm oil […] Read more

Indonesia has announced plans to implement a 35 percent mandate (B35) as early as January 2023, according to a Mecardo analysis that appeared on the UkrAgroConsult web site. | Reuters photo

Indonesia boosts biodiesel mandate

Rising biodiesel mandates around the world will help keep vegetable oil supplies tight in 2023. Indonesia has announced plans to implement a 35 percent mandate (B35) as early as January 2023, according to a Mecardo analysis that appeared on the UkrAgroConsult website. “This will increase domestic Indonesian palm oil demand, providing support for palm oil […] Read more


Will biodiesel be enough to meet the demands and lost production?  |  File photo

Biodiesel filling gaps left by idled petroleum processing

I wonder if all the new renewable diesel projects announced across North America will be a solution to the shortage of oil-refining capacity or will they become the bad guys? Fuel prices are posting record highs and a large reason for the run up is the rally in crude oil but even then, fuels are […] Read more

The measure could squeeze local supplies of soybean oil, used to make biodiesel in the South American country, and put upward pressure on grain prices. | Reuters photo

Argentina hikes biodiesel blend to counter fuel shortage

South American country concerned about poor supplies and high prices for country’s agriculture sector

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) — Argentina’s government will raise required biodiesel content in diesel blends in a bid to address a prolonged shortage of the motor fuel, especially for the country’s key agricultural sector, the energy ministry announced recently. The measure could squeeze local supplies of soybean oil, used to make biodiesel in the South American […] Read more