Biofuel margins have shown a significant increase over the past couple of weeks, with feedstock prices moving lower while renewable identification number (RIN) values have climbed, Fastmarkets heard on Wednesday October 16.

The soybean oil/heating oil spread (BOHO) has fallen by 23% since September 24. A falling BOHO spread signals a less challenging economic environment for biodiesel and renewable diesel (RD) production. When the BOHO spread moves lower, RIN prices tend to decline because profitability is improving.

The BOHO spread moved lower when soybean oil prices fell by 5% and ultra-low sulfur diesel prices rose by 4%.

RIN prices did not decline with the BOHO during this period, signaling a disconnect from the BOHO. Biomass-based diesel (BBD) RINs for 2024 (B24) were up by 8%, compounding the benefit for BBD production.

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