For the Quarter Ending September 2021
North America
The prices of Biodiesel observed a significant rise in the North American market during the third quarter of 2021. Restricted supply of raw materials from the Asian countries due to the increased freight cost has resulted in steep rise in the price trend of Biodiesel across the region. In addition, the prices of global Palm Oil and Rapeseed grew effectively in this quarter as well which further impacted the prices of Biodiesel in the country in Q3 2021. The demand from the downstream industries remained stable to firm throughout the quarter.
Asia
During the third quarter of 2021, the pricing trend of Biodiesel witnessed an upward approach in the Asian market. The prices of Biodiesel remained firm in Q3 due to the disruption in the supply of the key raw materials across the region. Soaring domestic fuel prices have propelled the demand for biofuel in India. Ex-Works prices of Biodiesel escalated from USD 859/mt to USD 935/mt during Q3 2021. In addition, the demand for Biodiesel is consistently improving in the region, thereby supporting its prices. Rising upstream feedstock cost further exacerbated the overall pricing of Biodiesel in the region.
Europe
The European market experienced a surge in the pricing trend of Biodiesel, backed by the critical global shortage of upstream feedstock palm and rapeseed oil in Q3 2021. Increased prices of palm and rapeseed oil led to the hike in the prices of downstream products including Biodiesel across the region. In addition, the European export demand for Biodiesel from several Asian countries remained firm while production levels remained impacted that compelled its prices to stay high throughout the quarter.
For Quarter Ending June 2021
North America
North American Biodiesel market experienced a steep rise in prices of Biodiesel during the previous quarter till the end of April 2021 backed by limited supply against strong demand fundamentals across the region. In addition, soaring global Palm Oil and Rapeseed prices also effectively impacted the prices of Biodiesel initially, which later started relaxing in the second half of this quarter, in effect of improved stock availability and comparatively cheaper imports of raw materials. Therefore, a considerable decline in price of Biodiesel was observed within the quarter, with prices setting at USD 1290/MT during June in USA.
Asia
In the Asian market, prices of Biodiesel rose effectively throughout the quarter, backed by soaring feedstock palm oil values. In India, imported palm oil reached multiyear high, which affected the prices of most of the downstream products in the country including Biodiesel. India and China, worlds largest importer of vegetable oil received palm and vegetable oil on record high prices due to critical shortage in the global market. However, in the Indian market demand remained low, under the second wave horrifying pandemic. Therefore, a steep inclination in prices of Biodiesel was observed in overall APAC region under international pressure and reached USD 900/MT in India during June 2021.
Europe
Despite of dull demand fundamentals, prices of Biodiesel shot up across Europe, backed by critical global shortage of feedstock palm and rapeseed oil. As major economies were still recovering from the pandemic, demand was observed lower than pre-pandemic level during this time period. However, prices of rapeseed oil rose every week across the region, which continued to affect the prices of downstream products including Biodiesel. Therefore, an effective rise in prices of Biodiesel was observed across Europe during Q2 2021.
For the Quarter Ending March 2021
Asia
Demand for Biodiesel was very high in the APAC region during Q1 2021. Scarcity of Rapeseeds pushed up the prices of Biodiesel in the global market, especially in Indonesia where the prices rose due to high export demand from other Asian countries. China claimed high demand for Rapeseed and hence Europe-China trade was marked mountainous. Meanwhile in India, Aemetis has announced that its universal biofuels subsidiary/plant in Andhra Pradesh, will soon distribute Biodiesel to Indian public transport buses.
North America
USA experienced high demand for Biodiesel for blending in gasoline during Q1 2021. Meanwhile, the government of USA announced the price hike in RIN (Renewable Identification Number) credits which are given to those engaged in gasoline manufacturing with apt Biodiesel blending. Rest of the manufacturers who don’t blend Biodiesel in gasoline would have to buy these credits, and this will propel the demand for Biodiesel in the coming months. This announcement enhanced the market sentiments and key players anticipated to seek huge spike in demand for Biodiesel across the region, that will force small manufacturers to increase their production.
Europe
In Europe, Rapeseed prices in Germany surged as an effect of lower supply levels heard during January. The sales of Biodiesel remained low during January despite moderate product availability. Later in March, Biodiesel sales spiked up, but the inventories remained at low levels, which supported the price of feedstock vegetable oils and Rapeseeds. In addition, the European export demand for rapeseeds from several Asian countries was high that forced its prices to remain high.
For the Quarter Ending September 2020
Asia
The producers of Biodiesel in the southeast Asian countries were heard releasing sufficient volumes to cater to the increased overseas and domestic demand. The outbreak of Covid-19 impacted the supply of used cooking oil in China, which is the country’s main and primary biodiesel feedstock. As per our Q3 estimates, the regional demand stood low, but the production has increased on the back of robust demand from the European Union. With around 42 biodiesel plants projected to start operations by the end of 2020, the sentiments are turning bullish as the year-end approaches. In Indonesia, prevailing concerns due to government's inability to keep pace up with the biodiesel blending program, widened the price gap between gasoil and palm oil.
North America
Biodiesel producers in the US ramped up production rates seeing favorable gains during the peak demand season in summers. The third quarter reported marked increased in the production of Biodiesel in the US, as the demand was supported by a mandate on consumption and buoyant fuel demand for the conveyance of goods by the heavy vehicles. USDA data shows that US exported Biodiesel to seven countries with Canada as the top destination with volume reaching 56904 metric tons in September.
Europe
The supply of biodiesel started picking up in Europe starting July 2020, with a strong rise in the consumption patterns. Lack of imports from Asia and Argentina, led to shortage in supply of FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester) in September 2020. At the end of Q3, the supply of rapeseed-based biodiesel remained enough. Due to its summer blend properties, the demand for FAME 0 remained robust across Europe. In addition, UCOME (Used Cooking Oil Methyl Ester) was experiencing better demand than other biodiesel grades after its demand faded by the end of Q3.
