Friday Edition

10.09.09

North America

USDA RELEASES LATEST WORLD AGRICULTURE REPORT
According to a USDA report released Friday, total US oilseed production is forecast at 96.1-million tons, up 0.3-million from last month, with soybean production up 5-million to a record 3.25-billion bushels on higher yields. Global oilseed production for 2009/10 is projected at 425.4-million tons, up 2.6-million from September’s forecast.


MORE US ETHANOL PLANTS RESUME PRODUCTION
Currently in the US, more ethanol plants are online and producing than earlier this year, as the total of non-producing plants fell from 36 to 24 since the spring, Ethanol Producer Magazine reports. As of September, 1.45-billion out of a total 11.5-billion gallons of annual production capacity was idle.


South America

BRENCO ANNOUNCES ETHANOL EXPANSION PLAN
In Brazil, BRENCO has announced a $3.5-billion expansion plan including ten new ethanol plants, eventually accounting for 10% of total Brazilian ethanol. The company is in the process of merging with ETH Bioenergia SA.

Europe

WASTE BIODIESEL MAY COUNT DOUBLE TOWARDS RTFO
The UK RFA is considering separating waste biodiesel and vegoil biodiesel by allowing TME and UCO to count double towards fulfilling RTFO requirements. The move would allow oil companies to make the arbitrage between using TME and UCO in a greater proportion to reduce the volume of biodiesel required to meet their blending target, Mer-7 explains. The Netherlands is also considering a similar measure.

FRANCE ANNOUNCES 2ND-GEN BIOFUELS PROGRAM
The French Environment and Energy Management Agency has announced a five-year, $148-million program for the development of second-generation biofuels in France. The BioTFuel program, which includes IFP, Total, CEA and Sofiproteol, will start with the construction of two waste biodiesel plants.


BAYER CLAIMS MAPPING OF RAPESEED GENETIC CODE
Germany-based Bayer, the largest supplier of genetically modified rapeseed seeds, claims it has mapped out the entire genetic code of the oil plant, in hopes of speeding up development of new varieties, Reuters reports. Bayer made $370-million in sales from modified rapeseed seeds, and pesticides for rapeseed farmers last year.


EC REPORTS NEED FOR INCREASED CLEAN ENERGY INVESTMENT
A new report by the European Commission states that investment in clean energy needs to increase by at least $73-billion through 2020 for Europe to meet its climate goals. Currently, the EU spends about $3.5-billion/yr, but $11.8-billion/yr is needed to cut CO2 emissions 20% by 2020.


EU ETHANOL PRODUCTION INCREASING
Growth in EU ethanol production and surging prices for Brazilian ethanol could lead to Brazilian exporters being priced out of the EU market, Argus reports. European producers Ensus, Vivergo and Abengoa are expecting to bring on stream large ethanol plants this year, adding over 1-million t/yr of installed capacity.

Asia / Pacific

KS OILS INCREASES OIL PALM PLANTATION ACREAGE
India-based KS Natural Resources has acquired 53k acres of land in Indonesia for palm oil plantations as part of a new project requiring $76-million in investment over three years. In June, the company bought 35k acres of palm plantation in Indonesia.

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