NBG Daily 02-05-07

Natbio · #1 (**permalink**) 2nd May 2007, 06:12 PM

DAILY BIODIESEL INFORMATION

Compiled by Jesse Sherwood

COMPETITOR INFORMATION

1. Netherlands. A 400,000 mt/yr (€70.2mil) biodiesel plant is to be built by WHEB Biofuels in the Port of Rotterdam to commence operations in 2009. NB. ED & F Man and ATMOS SpA have an equity investment, with ED & F Man contracted to source and supply the plant’s feedstock requirements. Read

GLOBAL TRADE INFORMATION

1. Ireland. Irish companies will target multimillion-euro waste management and renewable energy contracts in Britain, in an attempt to capture the huge British market in need of expertise now, particularly if there is to be a 60 per cent reduction in carbon emissions in 40 years. Read
2. US. Just a reminder that the CBOT is still evaluating the potential of a biodiesel contract on its board, and note that to facilitate this a reliance on existing soybean traders to help create the market (as was the case with sugar traders for ethanol). Read
3. UK. The demand for organic animal feed (particularly poultry) in the UK has grown substantially in recent years and will continue to grow, esp. under the new EU requirement of 85% and 95% organic content in animal and ruminant feed respectively. The UK is thus becoming more and more reliant on organic feed (such as soybean meal) in the future particularly as a result of the limited arable land available to local producers. Read

GOVERNMENT (Taxation; Incentives; Subsidies; Policies; Mandates)

1. EU/US. An unusual (but legal) subsidy loophole is being exploited by biodiesel traders between the US and EU, such that EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson is preparing an investigation which could result in WTO retaliatory tariffs being imposed on American biodiesel exported to Europe. The subsidy of contention is the US “B99” subsidy, which benefits exporters, so much so that they are able to undercut EU competitors by up to a quarter, as most EU tax breaks are at Point of Sale (POS). This has been coined “splash and dash” by the industry (incl. Euro Biodiesel Board). Basically what is happening is that Traders are buying biodiesel on the EU market and shipping it to the US where petrodiesel is added to the biodiesel blend - or "splashed with gas" - to qualify for the subsidy. Then the cargo is shipped back - or "dashes" - to EU and resold at a lower price. Read
2. US. A recent study by a defense consulting firm has found that all four branches of the US military must “fundamentally transform” their assumptions about energy, including taking immediate steps toward fielding weapons systems and aircraft that run on alternative and renewable fuels, if the U.S. military’s ability to respond to hot spots around the world is to be sustainable in the long term. Read
3. NZ. A proposed regional petrol tax for Auckland has mixed but generally positive support from officials. The planned 10c/L levy will be used to pay for [long overdue] transport infrastructure. Below is a breakdown of current 47.665 c/L tax/levy on petrol:
22.5 cents—National Land Transport Fund
18.7 cents—General Crown Account
5.78 cents—ACC Motor Vehicle Account
0.66 cents—Local Authority Petroleum Tax
0.025 cents—Petroleum Fuels Monitoring Tax

BIODIESEL PRODUCTION (Technology & Capacity)

1. US. Fuel:Bio began operation of its 50Mmga/yr soy/palm biodiesel plant Feb 10 this year in New Jersey. They claim that they will be the first and only production facility to develop algae tubes to grow future feedstock supply… Read

BIODIESEL SPECIFICATIONS (Product Quality & Regulations)

1. Soyatech LLC, publisher of the annual Soya & Oilseed Bluebook, has launched its newly enhanced website at www.soyatech.com. The new site includes free access to Soyatech's industry database, soya and oilseed facts, a calendar of industry events See more

BIODIESEL USERS & TRIALS

1. Environmentally conscious mower company Toro has recently released it’s new range of B20 compatible mowers branded as “Biodiesel Ready” (at the massive Golf Industry Show in Anaheim, California). They are also displaying their new diesel-to-biodiesel conversion kits (that range from $30 to $500) and will be available from June. Read

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