Renewable Diesel Margins Fall on Higher Feeds, Weaker Nymex ULSD
US Gulf coast RD margins fell sharply as higher feedstocks prices and a weaker Nymex ULSD contract weighed heavily on returns. Negligible gains in D4 credits failed to provide support to the margin environment, while a fresh rally in LCFS credits staunched further losses.
UCO margins shed $0.11/gallon, or 4.26%, to $2.40/gallon, overtaking BFT as the top returning feedstock. Strong gains in BFT pricing saw margins tumble $0.20/gallon, or 7.78%, to $2.37/gallon.
DCO margins also came under heavy pressure on rising feed prices. Margins cratered $0.22/gallon, or 9.64%, to average $2.05/USG. DCO margins have been particularly volatile over the last several weeks amid shifting feed prices.
Soybean oil margins slid $0.11/gallon to average $1.83/gallon principally on the back of Nymex ULSD losses.
To recap: The week ended April 14 saw mixed RD margins as stronger feedstock prices were largely shored up by higher credit prices and a modest decline in the front month Nymex contract. BFT remained the highest returning feedstock, yet margins for both BFT and UCO were unchanged on the week. DCO margins dived as feed prices firmed, while soybean oil margins halted a two-week rout.
The week ended April 21 saw RD margins fall sharply as feedstock costs rose, while Nymex ULSD weakened. Firmer LCFS credits halted further losses in margins, while a largely stable D4 RIN was not in play. UCO overtook BFT as the highest returning feedstock as BFT prices soared. Strong feedstock prices also saw a heavy rout in DCO margins.
Biodiesel margins, as measured by the soybean oil-to-heating oil (BOHO) spread widened $0.15/gallon as losses in the front-month Nymex ULSD contract were met by modest gains in SBO. The BOHO spread averaged $1.54/gallon last week but reached as wide as $1.59/gallon.
The 2023 vintage D4 were little changed on the week, leaving the BOHO spread running just $0.03-$0.04/gallon under D4 RIN values (see below).
The wider the BOHO spread, the weaker the margin as the main input cost for biodiesel producers, soybean oil, is more costly than the petroleum-based diesel fuel it competes with, compressing margin though the D4 RIN can contribute significantly toward making up for BOHO weakness.
The BOHO spread is a simplistic breakdown of the pulse of the biodiesel industry and is in widespread use by the industry. The BOHO spread does not account for operational costs which can vary drastically from plant to plant, nor the additional margin value afforded by credits and/or the sale of byproducts such as glycerin.
D4 RIN prices were little changed last week as bullish headlines were offset by record March D4 RIN generation.
EPA Administrator Michael Regan issued comments at a House Agriculture Committee hearing last week indicating the EPA is likely to cave to both industry and lawmaker pressure to increase the advanced biofuel mandate in the final ruling expected in June.
News that United Refining was denied its SRE hardship waiver by the Third Circuit court added bullish undertones to the RIN complex as the move adds additional demand to the marketplace. Trade organization Growth Energy entered comments in support of enforcing SREs in its case against the EPA. A full denial of all SREs would represent more than 1.6 billion RINs
Prior to this month’s moves, the approval by a federal court of a SRE for Calumet Special Products 30,000 b/d refinery in Montana provided bearish undertones to RIN markets.
SREs were carved out in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for refiners producing 75,000 b/d or less which could prove compliance with the RFS—i.e., purchasing RINs—resulted “undue economic hardship.”
The EPA retroactively overturned 69 Trump-Era SREs starting in April of last year by denying 31 SRE waivers for 2018 and then denying all SRE petitions for 2016 through 2020. Denying SREs is bullish for RINs markets as refiners must enter the marketplace to purchase RINs to cover compliance obligations which were originally waived.
A court ruling earlier this month halted compliance obligations for two refineries with existing SRE petitions taking issue with the retroactive nature of the SRE denial.
If approved the SRE ruling will prove very bearish for the wider RIN marketplace as participants will view the decision as a shift in the EPA’s approach to granting SREs. Notes from the court were strongly in favor of granting the SREs, as the court made it clear it intends to handle SREs as originally intended by the RFS—i.e., waive RFS compliance if undue hardship can be demonstrated—and to allow waivers which were issued in an “unlawful retroactive application.”
Prompt LCFS prices rallied nearly $7.00/t, or 8.65%, on the week. LCFS markets have been supported by trader buying and strength in futures markets in recent weeks. Gains carried across the spot forward curve.
Contango in the forward structure steepened, with Q4 reaching as high as $89.00/t (see below).
LCFS prices add to margin value for product intended for California, which sets the clearing price for RD fuel in the US and Canada as California RD represents the maximum achievable price for the fuel. California consumes roughly +70% of RD produced in the US for this reason, while additional barrels are sent to Oregon which also has a LCFS program in place. Washington state credits have begun trading, with back-half 2024 WCFS credits valued around $105/t.
Renewable diesel and biodiesel margins reflect a complex interplay between conventional fuels, renewable feedstocks, logistics, environmental credits, and regulatory momentum. With at least 1.8 billion gallons of additional RD capacity slated to come online this year, the need for protection from margin erosion is paramount.
Hedging provides this insurance.
At the same time, established facilities conducting turnaround maintenance can benefit from locking in margins and feedstock costs. Less sophisticated facilities—for example, producers equipped to run only one or two high-cost feedstocks and lacking prime market access—stand to benefit most from AEGIS hedging and advisory functions by achieving the best price possible for their product alongside feedstock optimization strategies.
Renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel markets remain in revolutionary growth mode. The US Energy Information Agency projected RD capacity could more than double through 2025.
While returns narrow RD and SAF remain the highest returning products in the renewable space, rapid growth and regulatory changes will drive perpetual volatility.
AEGIS is here to help harness volatility to lock in predictable gains and prevent losses through innovative hedging strategies.
Important Disclosure: Indicative prices are provided for information purposes only and do not represent a commitment from AEGIS Hedging Solutions LLC ("Aegis") to assist any client to transact at those prices, or at any price, in the future. Aegis makes no guarantee of the accuracy or completeness of such information. Aegis and/or its trading principals do not offer a trading program to clients, nor do they propose guiding or directing a commodity interest account for any client based on any such trading program. Certain information in this presentation may constitute forward-looking statements, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "edge," "advantage," "opportunity," "believe," or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance or activities.