Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay sign biofuels pact

In Paraguay, member nations of the Southern Agricultural Council (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay) agreed to cooperate on biodiesel development and production.

Brazil has become world-renowned for its ethanol industry, but Argentina has (more quietly) become a major biodiesel producer. Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay have industries largely in the experimental and pilot phase, but all have biofuels policies in place, including mandates.
Recently, the Argentine federal government increased the export tax on soybeans, soy products and corn, but exempted biofuels from increases. This move is expected to spur exports of Argentine biodiesel and ethanol to the EU and the US. The province of Santa Fe, which hosts most of the major biodiesel plants, has additional incentives in place.

Argentina is expected to produce 428 million gallons of biodiesel in 2008, as much as four times 2007 production. Renova, Vicentin SAIC, Glencore, Aceitera General Deheza, Bunge and Repsol are among companies working in joint ventures that will construct four new biodiesel plants with over $135 million in invested capital.

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