The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has launched a four-part strategy aimed at expanding international market opportunities for American biofuel producers, including efforts to increase ethanol blending and open markets such as India for road transportation fuels, Biodiesel Magazine reported.
US Agriculture Secretary Brook Rollins announced the American Biofuels Trade Outlook on September 15 while addressing the 17th annual Growth Energy Biofuel Summit in Washington, D.C.
Rollins said the strategy would build on the growth already achieved by the US biofuels industry and provide a framework for expanding exports into new and existing markets.
The first pillar focuses on increasing on-road ethanol blending in international markets. According to Rollins, the USDA will identify potential markets in regions such as Latin America and Southeast Asia for E10 adoption.
The department will also work to address implementation challenges in around 20 countries that already have E10 policies, with the objective of maintaining reliable access to these existing ethanol markets.
The second pillar seeks to address restrictions imposed by other countries on crop-based biofuels. Rollins said several economies, including the European Union, restrict crop-based biofuels from meeting transportation fuel demand.
The USDA plans to work towards expanding the use of US biofuels in road transportation, aviation and marine fuel markets. Rollins said the department would continue research and technical work aimed at broadening the international applications of crop-based biofuels.
India identified as strategic market
The third pillar focuses on gaining access to untapped markets through USDA market-access programmes and the America First Trade Promotion Program.
Rollins specifically identified India as a strategic market where the USDA will work to expand opportunities for US biofuels in on-road transportation.
The department will also use trade promotion funding to pursue markets with long-term growth potential, including Indonesia, Japan and Vietnam, she said.
The strategy’s fourth pillar focuses on international organisations, particularly the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Rollins said greater engagement with these organisations would be important for securing emerging markets and ensuring what the US considers fair treatment for American biofuels in international rules governing aviation and maritime fuels.
She also highlighted competition with Brazil in the development of international biofuel regulations, saying the US needed to remain engaged in the rule-making process.
Rollins said the new trade strategy would position biofuels as an important component of US agriculture, energy and security policy while supporting farmers, rural employment, energy security and agricultural sustainability.
