Traders of ethanol and biodiesel have a new website to exchange the green fuels.
This article from Ethanol Producer Magazine says the online trading platform from U.S. Biofuels Exchange, www.us-bx.com, uses “cloud computing” and requires no software for purchase, downloading or installation to post, buy, sell and make offers on biofuels for sale or biofuels wanted:
“We offer biofuels producers, brokers, blenders, distributors, importers, exporters and marketers the ability to anonymously buy and sell ethanol and biodiesel as well as the ability to make, receive and choose between multiple offers on listings,” said James Kaufman, US-BX vice president.
The project took longer than originally thought to complete, Miller said. Beta testing on the system was conducted the summer of 2008 with the goal of launching that fall. The delay has allowed US-BX to make sure everything was working perfectly. “The last thing you want to do is tell everybody you are the eBay of biofuels and there’s 20 different bugs the first time they use it,” he said.
Having a web-based system moves biofuels trading from small regional deals to much greater possibilities. For example, it will help connect producers with overseas buyers, particularly in China. “This opens up the capacity and availability across the country and the world,” he said.
The article says US-BX has already signed up more than a dozen companies since opening for business at the end of October. The site is offering free trades through January 1st.