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European Biodiesel and Feedstock MarketsPublished by: Frost & Sullivan Published: May. 31, 2007 - 215 Pages Table of Contents
AbstractThis Frost & Sullivan research service titled European Biodiesel and Feedstock Market Analysis 2007 provides market metrics including drivers, restraints, capacity details, plant costs, and revenue forecasts for each European country. The feedstock potential has also been analysed and detailed information on farming practices and farming capacities is provided. In this research, Frost & Sullivan's expert analysts thoroughly examine European biodiesel production and consumption by country (EU 25), feedstock production and oilseed crushing.Obtaining Feedstock at Competitive Prices Imperative to Survive in the European Biodiesel and Feedstock Market With production of vegetable oil in western Europe having touched full capacity and remained constant over the past decade (at between 11 and 12 million tonnes), the intensely competitive biodiesel market is hard pressed to procure feedstock at competitive prices. Even with the new EU member states contributing an additional 1 million tonnes, approximately 9.5 million tonnes of biodiesel will be required to meet EU Directives that aim to make biodiesel account for 5.75 percent of all transport fuels. "Assuming a 1:1 conversion of vegetable oil to biodiesel by volume, over 80 percent of all the vegetable oil currently produced in Europe would be required for the biodiesel market," observes the analyst of this research service. This enormous need for biodiesel has created a requirement for waste vegetable oil and other cheap oil sources. The overwhelming demand for a finite commodity such as feedstock will inevitably hike biofuel prices to a level where producer margins will start thinning. As feedstock costs account for 70 percent of the total plant operating expenditure, biodiesel producers will rely heavily on an effective feedstock procurement strategy and reduced logistics costs. To this end, they will team up with agricultural concerns and look to achieve downstream integration as well as leverage related business activities to lower costs and increase profit margins. Favourable Government Mandates Fuel Uptake of Biodiesel Europe’s desire to be less dependent on oil imports has revived interest in alternative fuels and induced favourable legislation. "The biodiesel market has enjoyed excellent European Commission support by way of the Kyoto agreement and Directives 2003/30/EC and 2003/96/EC, which specifically seek to promote biofuels and establish indicative targets for their use in the transport industry," says the analyst. These regulations are expected to encourage biofuel use and make them cost competitive with mineral fuels. Encouraged by the EU legislation, individual member states have implemented their own incentives such as tax relief, renewable transport fuel obligations (RTFOs) and blending mandates. Blending mandates have particularly aided the biodiesel market and the fuel industry, in general. This legislation requires oil companies to blend a set percentage of biofuel in all its fuels, presenting them with a huge logistical challenge. "They will require large volumes of biofuel to meet the mandate levels, even though percentage levels are usually low," explains the analyst. "This means the oil companies are likely to team up with biofuel producers in long term agreements or even invest in their own plants." Such developments are expected to considerably improve the prospects of biodiesel and feedstock markets. Get Full Details About This Report >> |
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