Apr 15, 2026
Biodiesel in Brazil to go From B15 to B16 and Maybe B20
Author: Michael Cordonnier/Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc.
Last week in Brasilia, Abiove and Aprobio launched the Biodiesel Alliance with the aim of integrating the sector, expanding the use of biofuels, and reducing the Brazilian dependence on imported diesel.
Today, Brazil imports about 25% of the diesel it consumes, worth approximately R$ 150 billion per year. The Brazilian government is searching for every way possible to hold down the cost of fuel by cutting fuel taxes and increasing subsidies, but those measures do not solve the structural problem of not producing enough diesel to meet the domestic demand. What could address the problem is increasing the production of biodiesel.
Biodiesel is a viable alternative to reduce dependence on external sources of diesel and it is cheaper. National biodiesel today sells for approximately R$5.74 per liter compared to imported diesel at R$6.75 per liter.
Currently, Brazil has B15 biodiesel and that is expected to increase to B16 in short order and maybe B20 by the end of the year. A 1% increase in the mixture would represent an additional 3 million tons of soybeans processed as fuel. The sector already has the production capacity for B20 use nationwide. The president of Aprobio, Jerome Goergen, indicated positive results in the most recent tests using B20 and he would like to see the technical tests completed within four months to take advantage of the expensive diesel moment.
The increase in biodiesel has a direct impact on the agricultural chain by expanding the processing of soybeans and consequently, the production of soybean meal used in animal feed.