US biodiesel imports rise in October, exports fall

U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel imports jumped in October while exports of American biodiesel fell, according to the latest trade data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The U.S. imported more than 27.6 million gallons of biodiesel in October, up from around 17 million gallons the previous month and just shy of the monthly high for the year so far of 28.2 million gallons in April.

Imports from Canada approached 13 million gallons in October.

The U.S. imported 12.3 million gallons of biodiesel from Germany, just short of the monthly high for the year so far from that country of nearly 12.35 million gallons in April.

Spain shipped close to 2.4 million gallons to the U.S. in October.

U.S. renewable diesel imports were also up in October from September, reaching nearly 19 million gallons compared to the monthly low for the year so far of nearly 12.8 million gallons the previous month.

More than 16.6 million gallons of renewable diesel came to the U.S. in October from Singapore.

Another nearly 1.9 million gallons originated in the Netherlands.

Interestingly, for the first time ever, the United Arab Emirates exported renewable diesel to the U.S. in October. While the shipment was small at 420,000 gallons, it was historic, nonetheless.

U.S. exports of biodiesel in October fell by more than 12 million gallons compared to the previous month.

Nearly 19.7 million gallons of biodiesel was exported in October from the U.S., down from more than 32 million gallons in September.

A vast majority of U.S. biodiesel exports in October—more than 17.6 million gallons—was shipped to Canada.

Nearly 1.9 million gallons went to Peru while 126,000 gallons of U.S. biodiesel was destined for Germany.