Total biomass-based biodiesel imports fell 42% in 2018

In Washington, the Energy Information Administration says U.S. imports of biomass-based diesel, which include biodiesel and renewable diesel, totaled 22,000 barrels per day (b/d) in 2018, down 42% from 2017, and 64% lower than the all-time high set in 2016. Although increasing Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) targets have driven biomass-based diesel demand in recent years, imports have fallen sharply—largely because of U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) import duties imposed on foreign biodiesel volumes sourced from Argentina and Indonesia, countries which made up 60% of total U.S. imports of biomass-based diesel in 2016.