Glycerin Supply Remains Constrained

Biomass-based diesel consumption has reached 1.913 billion gallons through August 2021 in the EPA’s D4 fuel code.  This is up 3.4 percent from 2020.  Within all fuel codes, biodiesel, and renewable diesel consumption are at 1.995 billion gallons combined.  Total biodiesel and renewable diesel consumption (within all fuel codes) are up 3.5 percent relative to 2020 through the same January through August period.

At first blush, this might seem bullish for glycerin supply, but since biodiesel and renewable diesel differ in their production process, they also differ in the by-products produced.  Glycerin is a byproduct of biodiesel production, not of renewable diesel production.

Renewable diesel production through August 2021 is 27 percent over 2020 through the same timeframe.  Biodiesel production is 7.5 percent below 2020.  Through August 2021, biodiesel production is 98.6 million…