US biodiesel imports in September 2023 hit highest level since August 2017

U.S. biodiesel imports in September 2023 reached their highest monthly level in six years, according to new data released Nov. 30 by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The U.S. imported nearly 54 million gallons of biodiesel in September.

The last time the U.S. took in this much biodiesel in a single month was August 2017, when more than 66 million gallons entered U.S. ports.

Germany was the top foreign source of biodiesel to the U.S. in September, shipping 14.6 million gallons.

Spain sent the highest volume of biodiesel to the U.S. on record from that country in September—12.8 million gallons—coming in as the second largest foreign supplier of biodiesel to the U.S. for the month.

Nearly 11 million gallons of biodiesel entered the U.S. from its neighbor to the north—Canada—in September.

Italy shipped nearly 7.5 million gallons of biodiesel to the U.S. during the month, also the highest monthly volume on record from that country, according to EIA data.

Roughly 5.8 million gallons of biodiesel came to the U.S. from South Korea in September.

In only its second shipment of biodiesel to the U.S. ever recorded, according to EIA data, Brazil sent more than 2.1 million gallons during the month.

Brazil’s first shipment to the U.S. on EIA record was in March, when it sent close to 3.8 million gallons.

Renewable diesel imports

U.S. renewable diesel imports for September came in at just over 17 million gallons.

Nearly 1.8 million gallons of renewable diesel entered the U.S. from the Netherlands during the month.

More than 15.2 million gallons of renewable diesel was shipped to the U.S. from Singapore. This was down 62 percent from August Singapore volumes of more than 40 million gallons.

Biodiesel exports

U.S. biodiesel exports were unremarkable in September, coming in at only 17.2 million gallons, down more than 60 percent from the April peak of nearly 44 million gallons.

A vast majority—15.4 million gallons—of U.S. biodiesel shipped out in September went north to Canada.

Nearly 1.7 million gallons of U.S. biodiesel during the month was destined for Peru, while nominal volumes were shipped to Germany and Italy (approximately 42,000 gallons each).