Argus launches B30 Ucome dob ARA marine biodiesel prices

In the Netherlands, Argus has launched B30 Ucome dob ARA range marine biodiesel blend assessments, replacing a calculated fob ARA range blend price. The assessment will comprise 30pc used cooking oil methyl ester (Ucome) and 70pc very-low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO).

Trade of marine biodiesel blends in northwest Europe has been impacted by changes to domestic policy in the Netherlands. Advanced fatty acid methyl ester (Fame) blends comprised a significant share of total bio-bunkering in the ports hub, driven by the value of renewable fuel tickets that are generated by the blending of biofuels.

HBE-G tickets, a class of Dutch renewable fuels tickets, or HBEs, are used by companies that bring liquid or gaseous fossil fuels into general circulation and are obligated to pay excise duty/energy tax on fuels.

HBE-Gs relate to the blending of ‘advanced’ biofuels, made from feedstocks listed in Annex IX Part A of the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED II). These tickets are tradable and count double towards transport mandates, enabling marine biofuels blenders to claim back value against they sales of physical product.