BIOETHANOL MARKET ANALYSIS

Market News

Key Developments

• In October 2018, Valero Renewable Fuels Co LLC acquired three bioethanol producing plants of Green Plains Inc. for US$ 319 million. The plants are located in South Carolina, Iowa and New York. With the acquisition Valero became second largest bioethanol producer in U.S., accounting for 11% of total U.S. ethanol production capacity.
• In 2016, Borregaard (Norway based chemical manufacturing company) invested US$ 21.2 million for up gradation of its bioethanol plant. The company installed modern production technology at its plant to increase its production efficiency and produce 100% water-free bioethanol.
• In April 2018, St1 Oy (Finland based energy company) completed construction of its pilot plant in Thailand. The plant is started in partnership with Ubon Bio Ethanol and will focus on producing bioethanol from cassava waste by using St1’s Etanolix technology. After successful implementation of pilot phase, company aims to start construction of first commercial plant.
• In December 2018, VERBIO North America Corporation acquired DuPont’s bioethanol plant located in Newada, Iowa, U.S. The acquisition will help VERBIO to increase its market share in bioethanol market.
• In April 2018, AustroCel Hallein GmbH (Austria based dissolving pulp manufacturer) announced to invest US$ 74 million to increase its dissolving pulp production capacity and to enter in to bioethanol production. The company will install equipment for production of bioethanol from wood sugars and will have production capacity of 30 million liters per year. The plant is expected to be operational by 2020.