Latest market news

Drop in biodiesel prices supports trading

  • Market: Biofuels
  • 06/05/20

Physical trading of northwest European benchmark biodiesel grade Fame 0°C CFPP (Fame 0) hit a record high in April, supported by spot price declines during Covid-19 lockdowns in the EU and following record volumes of futures trading for the grade in March.

The crash in European diesel demand caused by the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in many participants in the European biodiesel market turning to Fame 0 futures to manage risk exposure, taking on new positions and adjusting those set out before the lockdowns.

A record 18,245 lots of 100t Fame 0 contracts changed hands at a premium to low sulphur gasoil futures on the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) in March, up from just 6,170 in February and eclipsing the previous all-time high of 12,680 lots in November 2019.

With prices hitting lows at the end of March not recorded since Argus began assessing the grade in 2011, physical liquidity then picked up significantly, with much of the product bought in April probably going into storage — as suggested by inquires for floating storage in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) region — before expected price gains connected with the easing of lockdown measures.

An all-time high 180,000t of physical Fame 0 traded for prompt loading in April, with a daily record of 25,000t changing hands on 24 April. This represented an increase of 131pc from traded volumes in March and a rise of 49pc on the year.

Domestically produced rapeseed oil methyl ester (RME) — another northwest European biodiesel benchmark — slipped below fob Dutch mill rapeseed oil (RSO) prompt prices for the first time in March. Accordingly, in April major RME plants in the region began to run at reduced capacity or shut down altogether, also driving a rise in associated futures trading.

Traded volumes of RME futures in March increased by 6,282 lots on the month to 8,582 lots of 100t, before rising again to a nine-month high in April of 9,430 lots. Spot liquidity for RME has been more measured given the seasonal norms associated with its cold-weather properties. Physical trade totalled 46,000t in April, up by 53pc from volumes in March but lower by the same percentage when compared with April 2019, with an unseasonably high level of trade that month owed to firm prices in the first quarter of the year.

Demand for physical biodiesel has been broadly supported by efforts of EU members to ramp up their use of renewable fuels to meet a 10pc target in transport this year under the Renewable Energy Directive (RED).

In January-April 2020, spot trading of RME and Fame 0 combined totalled 621,000t, a large increase from the 444,000t recorded over the four-month period last year.


Sharelinkedin-sharetwitter-sharefacebook-shareemail-share

Related news posts

Argus illuminates the markets by putting a lens on the areas that matter most to you. The market news and commentary we publish reveals vital insights that enable you to make stronger, well-informed decisions. Explore a selection of news stories related to this one.

News
22/11/24

Blenders credit extension stalled in US Senate

Blenders credit extension stalled in US Senate

New York, 22 November (Argus) — A push for US lawmakers to extend various biofuel incentives before the end of the year has met resistance in the Senate. A growing coalition of biofuel and soybean groups has endorsed extending for one year a $1/USG federal tax credit for blenders of biomass-based diesel, which would otherwise expire after December and be replaced by the Inflation Reduction Act's carbon-intensity-based "45Z" credit. But lawmakers have various other priorities in the final weeks of this legislative session, and a staffer with the Democratic-controlled US Senate Finance Committee confirmed that prospects for a deal to extend biofuel tax credits are slim. "Republicans have showed very little interest in working with Democrats on much of anything related to tax," said Ryan Carey, chief communications advisor and deputy policy director at the Committee on Finance. "Their focus is primarily on the next Congress, when they're going to attempt to pass an extension of the first Trump tax law on a partisan basis." Another Senate office acknowledged on background that it is "unlikely" Congress will come to any major tax deal before the end of the year. Congress has other priorities for its brief lame duck session before president-elect Donald Trump begins his second term, including government funding, the federal debt limit, and a new farm bill. Tax policy could still fit into an end-of-year package, with some less controversial tax provisions and a bipartisan business tax proposal backed by Senate Finance Committee chair Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) still under discussion. But prolonging the biodiesel blenders credit — plus other biofuel credits benefiting sustainable aviation fuel and cellulosic fuels that some groups have also pushed to extend — appears to be a tougher lift. With Trump in the White House and Republicans set to control both chambers of Congress, Republicans are now preparing major tax policy legislation next year to prolong tax cuts passed during Trump's first term that are set to expire at the end of 2025. Lawmakers are likely to look at repealing some Inflation Reduction Act clean energy subsidies to help offset the cost of that proposal. Republicans on the House tax-writing committee this week requested public input on the 45Z credit specifically, a signal that they are at least open to modifications — and are already looking to tax policy next year. Biofuel subsidies are seen by analysts and lobbyists as less likely targets for repeal than other Inflation Reduction Act credits, given support for the industry among farm state lawmakers. But the request-for-information this week suggested that Republicans are wary of elements of the current 45Z credit and could support changes that benefit agribusiness. Even biofuel groups generally supportive of the 45Z credit's structure have been frustrated by President Joe Biden's administration, which has yet to issue guidance clarifying how it will calculate the carbon intensities of different fuels and feedstocks. By Cole Martin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Find out more
News

Shell will supply Brussels airport with SAF via DHL


21/11/24
News
21/11/24

Shell will supply Brussels airport with SAF via DHL

London, 21 November (Argus) — Shell and German logistics group DHL Express have signed a one-year deal for the supply of 25,000t of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at Brussels airport. Shell will deliver the SAF via pipeline to the airport. The SAF will be co-processed, meaning it will be produced in a fossil refinery by replacing fossil crude oil with renewable feedstocks. It will be certified by the international sustainability and carbon certification (ISCC) programme. DHL Express customers will be able to claim verified emission reductions (VER) carbon credits linked to the use of the SAF through DHL's book and claim model . DHL recently signed a supply agreement with US-based fuel supplier World Fuel Services for the latter to supply Miami International Airport with around 227mn l of blended SAF — 68mn l of which will be pure SAF — over a two-year period. DHL said it consumed 72,000t of SAF in 2023 for its Scope 1 operations — which refer to a company's direct emissions, becoming one of the top three SAF buyers globally. This amounts to around 15pc of global annual SAF output, based on the International Air Transport Association's estimate of around 500,000t of SAF produced in 2023. By Evelina Lungu Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

Cop: EU, four countries commit to 1.5°C climate plans


21/11/24
News
21/11/24

Cop: EU, four countries commit to 1.5°C climate plans

Baku, 21 November (Argus) — The EU, Canada, Mexico, Norway and Switzerland have committed to submit new national climate plans setting out "steep emission cuts", that are consistent with the global 1.5°C temperature increase limit sought by the Paris Agreement. The EU and four countries made the pledge at the UN Cop 29 climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan today, and called on other nations to follow suit — particularly major economies. Countries are due to submit new climate plans — known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs) — covering 2035 goals to the UN climate body the UNFCCC by early next year. The EU, Canada, Mexico, Norway and Switzerland have not yet submitted their plans, but they will be aligned with a 1.5°C pathway, EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra said today. The Paris climate agreement seeks to limit the global rise in temperature to "well below" 2°C and preferably to 1.5°C. Canada's NDC is being considered by the country's cabinet and will be submitted by the 10 February deadline, Canadian ambassador for climate change Catherine Stewart said today. Switzerland's new NDC will also be submitted by the deadline, the country's representative confirmed. Pamana's special representative for climate change Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez also joined the press conference today. Panama, which is designated as carbon negative, submitted an updated NDC in June. It is planning to submit a nature pledge, Monterrey Gomez said. "It is time to streamline processes to get to real action", he added. The UK also backed the pledge. The UK announced an ambitious emissions reduction target last week. The UAE — which hosted Cop 28 last year — released a new NDC just ahead of Cop 29, while Brazil, host of next year's Cop 30, released its new NDC on 13 November during the summit. Thailand yesterday at Cop 29 communicated a new emissions reduction target . Indonesia last week said that it intends to submit its updated NDC ahead of the February deadline, with a plan placing a ceiling on emissions and covering all greenhouse gases as well as including the oil and gas sector. Colombia also indicated that its new climate plan will seek to address fossil fuels, but it will submit its NDC by June next year . By Georgia Gratton Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

TotalEnergies' La Mede HVO plant restarting units


20/11/24
News
20/11/24

TotalEnergies' La Mede HVO plant restarting units

Barcelona, 20 November (Argus) — TotalEnergies 500,000 t/yr La Mede hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) plant near the French port of Fos-Lavera is restarting units following planned works The company issued a notice saying flaring and noise may occur through to the evening of 21 November as the restart occurs. TotalEnergies has not commented on the scope of the works, but the duration appears relatively short. La Mede began receiving feedstock again after a short break at the start of the month. It loaded a 14,000t HVO cargo last weekend, shipped to Fiumicino, Italy, which should arrive on 22 November, according to Argus tracking and Kpler data. Italy's Eni said this week that its 650,000 t/yr Gela HVO unit on Sicily is still undergoing planned works aimed at boosting the plant's flexibility to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). A tanker arrived at Gela's berth today and is slated to load an HVO cargo, according to Kpler data and Argus tracking. But the vessel has a 20 December delivery date in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) region, suggesting loading may not be imminent. By Adam Porter Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

US, Norway give $110mn to Brazil Amazon Fund


18/11/24
News
18/11/24

US, Norway give $110mn to Brazil Amazon Fund

Rio de Janeiro, 18 November (Argus) — The US and Norway will contribute a combined $110mn to Brazil's Amazon Fund to reduce emissions from deforestation and promote sustainable forest management. President Joe Biden announced the US' $50mn contribution to the fund from the Amazonian city of Manaus on Sunday. He is the first sitting US president to visit the Amazon rainforest. This adds to the $50mn disbursed by the US to the fund earlier this year, Biden said. Norway will contribute $60mn, citing a 31pc decrease in Amazon deforestation achieved from August 2023-July 2024. "Brazil's success in reducing deforestation is clear proof of the ambitions and determination of the Lula government," Norway's prime minister Jonas Gahr Store said from Rio de Janeiro. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has pledged zero deforestation by 2030. Norway was the first country to contribute to the Amazon Fund, which was set up during Lula's first term in 2008. It was suspended in 2019 during the presidency of Jair Bolsonaro, a climate skeptic, and reinstated when Lula returned to power in 2023. Projects worth a record R882mn ($151.6mn) have been approved so far this year according to Brazil's Bndes development bank, which manages the Fund. By Constance Malleret Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Generic Hero Banner

Business intelligence reports

Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.

Learn more