NNFCC News Review: Biofuels Issue 141, December 2023

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Foreword

The biofuels industry in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region faced challenges throughout 2023. An increase in advanced biodiesel imports from China to Europe led to multiple investigations in the EU.

The incentives provided by the EU for biodiesel production using waste oils and fats have raised concerns about companies in Asia allegedly blending biofuels with more affordable oils and exporting them to Europe. Both Germany and Ireland are conducting fraud investigations, whilst the European Commission initiated a probe into the routing of Indonesian biodiesel through China and the United Kingdom to evade customs duties when shipping to Europe.

Indonesia has requested WTO dispute consultations with the EU concerning the imposition of duties on biodiesel imports from the Southeast Asian nation in August. However, after the consultation failed to reach an agreement, Indonesia requested the WTO establish a dispute panel, aiming to maintain market access for Indonesian biodiesel products in the EU, which are currently subject to countervailing duties of 8% to 18%. On the 27th of November, the Dispute Settlement Body (DBS) agreed to establish the panel...

Other news this month includes:

Policy

WTO to review EU import duties on Indonesian biodiesel
South Korea to set biofuel standards for aviation and marine sectors
India eases restrictions on use of sugarcane juice for ethanol

Markets

Preem invests SEK 5.5 billion in refinery transition, aiming to lead in European renewable aviation fuel
Santa Maria Renewable Resources partners with Topsoe and Chemex Global
More...

Research and Development

New study triggers fraud concerns over EU imports
Alfa Laval and Bisviridi collaborate on biofuel production from food waste
LanzaTech and Tadweer explore transforming solid waste into SAF

Bioethanol

Clariant to close its bioethanol plant in Romania
Conestoga Energy and SAFFiRE Renewables collaborate on pilot cellulosic ethanol plant in Kansas

Biodiesel

CSL ships reduce emissions by using B100 biofuel
Neste collaborates with Coleman Oil to enhance accessibility of renewable diesel

Aviation and Shipping Biofuel

Repsol supplies Atlas Air with SAF
IATA announces estimates for SAF production
Cepsa, Maersk, and Renfe successfully complete 100 rail journeys in Spain using HVO

Other Biofuels

SUEZ partnership to produce UK’s first industrial scale waste to low-carbon LPG plant