Australia: Biofuels Annual
Australia’s biofuels industry situation has not experienced any drastic changes and essentially remains the same as last year. Biofuel mandates do not cover the entire country and are modest compared to other countries with biofuels support programs and initiatives. With minimum mandate support, biodiesel production and imports have sharply decreased, due to lower world crude oil prices and high feedstock prices. Total biofuel production for 2019 is forecast to be stable at 290 million liters (ML), comprised of 250 ML of fuel ethanol and 40 ML of biodiesel. Fuel ethanol accounts for only 2 percent of total petrol sales across Australia. Second-generation biofuels, such as energy crops and algae-based fuels are not yet commercially viable. An advanced biofuels plant is being built in Queensland to produce fuel for military, aviation, and marine applications, but it is not yet operational.