Global Ethanol, Biodiesel, and Feedstock Markets: Technology Assessments, Policy Issues, Key Supply Chain Stakeholders, and Worldwide Supply and Demand Forecasts

Motivated by growing concerns related to energy security, climate change, and economic stagnation, at least 38 national governments throughout the world have enacted blending mandates or targets to accelerate the expansion of biofuels production and consumption in the transportation sector. Long term, the widespread scale-up of biofuels could radically alter the industrial and geopolitical landscapes by meeting an expanding portion of consumer demand in ground, aviation, and maritime fuel markets. But with conventional biofuels constrained by social and environmental concerns, and price parity and access to financing a persistent obstacle to advanced biofuels scale-up, a number of difficult challenges must be overcome if the industry is to keep pace with emerging mandates.

While early success in Brazil, the United States, and the European Union demonstrate the commercial viability of conventional biofuels, the industry is entering a new era of feedstock flexibility, product neutrality, and sustainability underpinned by the emergence of advanced conversion pathways and feedstocks. Most industry players are confident that biofuels production and consumption will expand in developed and developing economies alike over the next decade. However, disproportionate feedstock access and utilization is expected to lead to increased global trade in biofuels, with countries like Brazil emerging as leading suppliers for the world market.

This Pike Research report provides an in-depth analysis of global ethanol and biodiesel opportunities as well as an evaluation of key challenges facing the broader biofuels industry. The study includes a comprehensive examination of market drivers, including policy and regulatory developments, feedstock and production economics, the commercial readiness of various pathways, as well as detailed profiles of key industry players across the entire biofuels value chain. Market forecasts extend through 2021 and include projections for mandated demand, production, feedstock utilization, and market value segmented across geography and fuel.