For the Quarter Ending March 2022
North America
The Biodiesel prices in the North American market witnessed mixed sentiment during the first quarter of 2022. When compared with Q4 of 2021, the Biodiesel market witnessed dip of 20.4% in Q1 of 2022. The price quotations rose towards the quarter end after the political tension between Russia and Ukraine raised, proportionally affecting the biodiesel prices. Supply shortage hampered the production rate of Biodiesel in the US market, as major feed supplying countries faced palm oil crisis in their regional market along with the trade route disruption that has been affected. Moreover, sunflower prices skyrocketed in the North American market, which proportionally escalated the biodiesel production cost, showcasing positive outlook in Q1 of 2022. The prices of Biodiesel in Q1 ranged from USD1922/ton, FAME Ex-Missouri to USD1820/ton, FAME Ex-Missouri, USA towards the quarter ending March 2022.
Asia Pacific
The market sentiments for Biodiesel in the Asia Pacific region remained strengthened during the first quarter of 2022. Major feed supplying Asian countries like Indonesia suffered from feed crisis (palm oil) in the domestic market, restricting the export to overseas market after the implementation of policies by the Indonesian government. Moreover, deforestation became another driving factors for sporadic variations in the market of Biodiesel. Surging demand of biofuel forced the major players to increase their production rate. As compared with Q4 of 2021, upwards trajectory was followed in the first quarter of 2022 of approximately 12%. In this quarter, the prices of Biodiesel landed at USD2248/ton, HVO FOB Tanjung Priok, Indonesia in the first quarter end of 2022.
Europe
In Q1 2022, the Biodiesel market in the European region showcased mixed sentiments throughout the first quarter. In Q1, the prices reached USD1970/ton HVO FOB Rotterdam in the month of January and reached at USD1865/ton, HVO FOB Rotterdam, Netherland towards the quarter end. The limited availability of feedstock due to the restricted feed supply from significant suppliers and higher production cost forced the manufacturers to raise the offered quotations for Biodiesel in the European domestic market. Owing to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, trade route disruption occurred in the regional market impacting the Biodiesel market. As compared with Q4 of 2021, Biodiesel market witnessed a suppression of 14% in the first quarter of 2022.
For the Quarter Ending December 2021
North America
The Biodiesel market in the North American market witnessed a mixed sentiment during the fourth quarter of 2021. The offers witnessed a persistent uptrend till the first half of the quarter and eased during the second half of the quarter. The US EPA proposed easing the Biofuel blending rates after the strong resistance from the downstream market players due to the badly hampered biofuel market because of COVID. Whereas the Biodiesel RINs in D4 2021, was settled at USD 1.385 RIN, during the constantly fluctuating demand against the strong support from the feedstock. In response, the USDA to provide economic relief to Biofuel producers and restore renewable fuel markets. As a ripple effect, the Ex-Missouri discussions for Biodiesel FAME offers settled at USD 2188 per tonne, during the quarter ending.
Asia Pacific
The market sentiments for Biodiesel in the Asia Pacific region remained strengthened during the fourth quarter of 2021. In addition, the producer's quotations for the Southeast Asian region witnessed unprecedented growth after the market player paced up the investments towards a greener economy. Whereas, in India, overall demand has surged to a level that black marketing and fake biofuels were in circulation in the past few months. However, this did not budge manufacturers from speculating around expanding their perspective production capacities to meet domestic requirements. Although the offers eased in the latter half of the quarter after the government decided to slash taxes by a certain margin. As a ripple effect, the Ex-Depot Mumbai discussions for Biodiesel were assessed at USD 1268 per tonne in December.
Europe
Overall, the Biodiesel market in the European market sentiments remained uplifted throughout the fourth quarter of 2021, this trend is majorly attributed to the supply glut amidst the ongoing energy crisis in Europe. The limited availability of feedstock due to the restricted run rates and higher production cost forced the suppliers to raise the offered quotations for Biodiesel in the European domestic market. Whereas, the rebound in the pricing of Crude Oil kept the PMI index high throughout the region. Whereas, the demand outlook varies with the resurgence of the omicron variant of COVID 19. However, the demand outlook outstripped the supply. In response, the offers for Biodiesel surpassed the USD 2000 per tonne mark in December.
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.
