Biodiesel stats show 60 percent rise at first quarter's end

June 1, 2011

BY Ron Kotrba

The U.S. Census Bureau’s biodiesel statistics for the first quarter of 2011 show very promising signs of a robust year for biodiesel, maybe the United States’ best ever, although we’ll have to see stats for April and May before we can identify a trend.

Despite not knowing what next year may bring in terms of policy, markets and mandates, biodiesel producers and blenders are taking advantage of the coexistence of high RIN credit prices (as a result of the biomass-based diesel standard) and the federal $1 per gallon blend credit.

While the year got off to a rather slow production start as inedible fats, oils and greases used for methyl esters in both January and February topped at out approximately 30 million gallons each month, March numbers were up approximately 60 percent from February at just under 50 million gallons.

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The Census Bureau said its April numbers would be out in late May, but as of midday June 1, they were not available. 

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