S&P Global Platts has launched a new North-Northeast Brazil anhydrous ethanol assessment which reflects demand for greater transparency and a clearly defined methodology to help market participants understand the drivers of pricing. “The North-Northeast of Brazil is a region that is net short ethanol and therefore needs to import from the Center-South region of the country as well as from …
Ethanol Industry Asks USTR to Suspend Brazil GSP Status
The U.S. ethanol industry is asking U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to suspend Brazil’s designated country status under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) due to “protectionist and market distorting actions in implementing a Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) that affects imports of U.S. ethanol.” A letter was sent to Lighthizer this week, signed by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), Growth …
Ethanol Industry Calls for U.S. Response to Brazilian Tariff
U.S. ethanol producers are asking the government to develop an immediate response to Brazil’s recently implemented tariffs on U.S. ethanol imports The Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy and the U.S. Grains Council are calling on the Trump Administration to “immediately engage their Brazilian counterparts on the future of our relationships with regard to biofuels.” On August 23, 2017, Brazil’s Chamber …
Brazil Corn Ethanol Plant Starts Production
FS Bioenergia, Brazil’s first large-scale corn ethanol production facility, is officially in production. The plant, located in Lucas do Rio Verde, Mato Grosso, is the result of an international collaboration between Brazilian agribusiness Fiagril and U.S.-based Summit Agricultural Group headquartered in Alden, Iowa. In its initial phase of operations, FS Bioenergia will annually process 22 million bushels of corn and …
Brazil Delays Tariff Decision
The U.S. ethanol industry is encouraged by a 30 day delay by the Executive Management Committee of CAMEX, Brazil’s Chamber of Foreign Trade in making a decision on a proposed 20 percent tariff on U.S. ethanol imports. U.S. Grains Council (USGC) President and CEO Tom Sleight, Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Bob Dinneen and Growth Energy CEO Emily …
Op-Ed Urges Brazil to Reject Ethanol Tariffs
Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen teamed up with former UNICA Chief Representative Joel Velasco to pen an op-ed for Brazilian newspaper Estado de S.Paulo urging the country’s leaders to resist returning to failed protectionist policy over ethanol. “As the primary advocates for our respective industries, we fought many impassioned battles over trade and tax policy,” wrote Dinneen …
RFA Leader Talks Trade During UNICA Ethanol Summit
Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Bob Dinneen addressed participants of the 2017 Ethanol Summit this week in São Paulo, Brazil. Dinneen’s remarks focused on trade, President Trump, and the environment. “The president has repeatedly expressed his support for biofuels, ethanol and for the Renewable Fuel Standard and we are extraordinarily confident that President Trump understands what we are …
Brazil Postpones Imposing Tariffs on US Ethanol
A decision by Brazil’s Chamber of Foreign Trade (CAMEX) on whether to impose tariffs on U.S. ethanol has been postponed by until next month for further evaluation. Brazilian sugarcane and ethanol producer associations proposed to reinstate the ethanol import tariff in Brazil after a recent surge in shipments coming in from the United States. UNICA has proposed a 16% tariff …
FS Bioenergia Names CEO
FS Bioenergia has announced that international agribusiness executive Henrique Ubrig will serve as the chief executive officer for the corn ethanol production facility being built in Brazil as a collaboration between Brazilian agribusiness Fiagril and U.S.-based Summit Agricultural Group. “This is an exciting opportunity to make a significant difference in agriculture and renewable energy here in Brazil,” Ubrig said. “FS …
#USDA Study Examines Land-Use & Ethanol in Brazil
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released a new report, “Brazil’s Agricultural Land Use and Trade: Effects of Changes in Oil Prices and Ethanol Demand“. The study looked at the issue of land-use changes in Brazil as westward expansion of agriculture, especially in the Cerrados Savannah region, continues in an effort to grow more food and produce more fuels …