Biofuel prices rise in Argentina
This is the first hike since October.
The hikes are already raising pump prices, a key source of revenue for investment in the oil sector.
The price of biodiesel, which, in Argentina, is made from soy oil, jumped an initial 59.3% to Peso 77,300/mt (€738) in January from Peso 48,533/mt (€433) in October-December 2020, according to a report from S&P Global Platts.
The price of biodiesel will then rise to Peso 86,875/mt (€830) in February, Peso 89,975/mt (€860) in March, Peso 90,300/mt (€863) in April, and Peso 92,558/mt (€884) in May for a total hike of 90.7% from last October.
In a bid to limit the impact of the hikes on diesel pump prices, the resolution scales back the required 10% mix.
Refiners will only have to mix 5% in January, half of the previous requirement. The mix will increase to 6.75% in February and 8.4% in March before returning to 10% in April.
The price of ethanol made from sugarcane will rise 33% to Peso 43.6/litre (€0.41) in January from Peso 32.78/litre (€0.31) in October, according to the resolution.
The price will then rise to Peso 47.80/litre (€0.45) in February, Peso 48.70/litre (€0.46) in March, Peso 49.60/litre (€0.48) in April, and Peso 51.132/litre in May — up 56% from the October-to-December period a year ago.
Argentina is one of the world's biggest biodiesel producers, with 4.5 million mt/year of installed capacity, but production slumped in 2020 as a March-November lockdown for the coronavirus pandemic reduced domestic consumption of diesel and a global economic slowdown has cut exports.
Ethanol production has taken a hit from the lockdown.