Biodiesel (FAME: RME, SME, PME, UCOME)

FAME to EN 14214 and ASTM D6751, bought on feedstock, CFPP and certification

Biodiesel in international trade means fatty acid methyl ester (FAME), and it is bought on three things at once: the specification, the cold-flow grade and the feedstock. The specification is EN 14214 for European B7 diesel and ASTM D6751 for US B100 blendstock, covering ester content, density, viscosity, flash point, sulphur, water, oxidation stability, acid value, iodine value, monoglycerides and metals. The cold-flow grade is the cold filter plugging point (CFPP) the buyer needs for its season and climate, typically stated as a CFPP band such as 0 °C, -10 °C or lower for winter grade. The feedstock sets both: rapeseed methyl ester (RME) has the best cold flow; soy methyl ester (SME) and palm methyl ester (PME) have higher CFPP and are usually blended; and used-cooking-oil methyl ester (UCOME) is valued for its Annex IX feedstock status and its GHG saving rather than its cold flow. UN Comtrade 2024 export declarations under HS 3826 put biodiesel at 15.50 million MT and USD 21.3 billion, led by the Netherlands (5.02 million MT), Germany (3.22 million MT), Spain (1.56 million MT), China (1.11 million MT), Malaysia (0.69 million MT) and the USA (0.59 million MT).

Trade remedies decide which origin can be offered into which market, and they are checked before a price is. The EU imposed definitive anti-dumping duties on biodiesel (FAME and HVO) from China by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/261 of 10 February 2025, at 10.0% to 35.6% of the CIF price by producer group, with sustainable aviation fuel outside the scope. The EU applies countervailing duties to biodiesel from Argentina, continued after an expiry review by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/835, with undertakings accepted from some producers, and to biodiesel from Indonesia under Regulation (EU) 2019/2092, which was the subject of an expiry review opened in 2024 and of WTO dispute DS618. Whether and at what rate a given producer's cargo is dutiable is the importer's check against the current TARIC entry. FAME is carried as a noxious liquid substance under MARPOL Annex II: the IBC Code lists fatty acid methyl esters as pollution category Y, ship type 2, so it moves in IMO type 2 chemical tankers. For European buyers the documents are a SGS or Intertek COA to EN 14214, a certificate of origin, an ISCC EU or equivalent proof of sustainability with the GHG saving and feedstock declared, and the customs status (T1 or T2). Pricing references are the Argus and Platts FAME assessments (FAME 0 °C CFPP, RME, UCOME) FOB ARA and on a barge basis, with US B100 values and RINs as the American reference. CBIL is a commodity brokerage company and brokers FAME between producers and trader positions and blenders, refiners and distributors on FOB, CFR and CIF terms, and because CBIL runs a chartering desk (LaycanDesk) that works chemical and product tankers, the freight leg can be quoted with the cargo. Send the standard, the CFPP, the feedstock you can accept, the certification scheme and the discharge port.

Excluded origins are not offered, including product re-exported, blended or re-processed through a third country. Every lot moves with a certificate of origin naming the producing plant, mine or grower country, and nothing is quoted before the seller and loading point are known.