Biotech Updates

Argentina to Raise Local Biodiesel Blending Requirement

December 11, 2013
News article: http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20131202-707958.html

In Argentina, the government announced that it will require a 10 percent biodiesel blend in fuel burned for power generation in a bid to boost the struggling biofuels sector and increase the use of ‘green fuels'. The government also wants to increase to 10 percent the biodiesel blending requirement for local vehicles.

Argentina is one of the world's top biodiesel producers, and has led exports in recent years. However, earlier this year the European Union slapped stiff anti-dumping duties on the shipments, causing exports and production to tumble. To compensate for the trade lost after the EU sanction, biodiesel producers have pushed for higher local blending requirements.

Argentina has biodiesel production capacity of four million tons a year, with 850,000 tons currently going to the domestic market.