11.22.2024
Biodiesel margins rise, but window of opportunity limited
Biodiesel margins continued to rise during the week to Friday November 22. The bean oil/heating oil (BOHO) spread boosted margins by falling to its lowest level since August 27.
The estimated crush margin experienced a sharp decline on a weekly basis in Central IL as soybean costs raced higher. The value received from oil and meal sales per bushel of soybeans crushed advanced from $15.31 per bushel to $15.33, noticeably lagging the climb in soybean prices that climbed from $13.27 to $13.691 cents per bushel. This caused the margin to narrow 40 cents to $1.64 per bushel, 16 percent below the margin value from this time last year and at a 15-week low.
Soybean, soybean meal and soybean oil prices continue to remain well supported relative to last year. However, the rapid rise in soybean costs has started to lower margins. Strong cash market gains and export demand have pushed soybean prices to levels not seen since 2014. Soybean prices are 57 percent over last year’s value, soybean oil is 62 percent stronger, and meal prices are up…