Report predicts increased ethanol production in the Philippines

Report predicts increased ethanol production in the Philippines

The Philippines recently filed an annual biofuels report with the USDA
Foreign Agricultural Service's Global Agricultural Information Network,
noting ethanol production is expected to increase through next year due to
the buildup of capacity.

According to the report, there were eight ethanol plants operating in the
Philippines last year with a combined capacity of 222 million liters (58.65
million gallons). The nation produced 168 million liters of ethanol last
year, up 46 percent when compared to the 115 million liters produced in
2014. Sugarcane and molasses are currently used as ethanol feedstocks in the
country.

Two additional ethanol plants began operations earlier this year, including
one newly constructed ethanol plant and a potable alcohol producer that
began producing fuel ethanol. Together, the facilities have an annual
capacity of 60 million liters.

This year, ethanol production is again expected to grow, reaching 266
million liters, up approximately 58 percent when compared to 2015. Capacity
utilization is expected to reach 94 percent this year, up 76 percent from
last year.

In 2017, another ethanol plant is expected to begin operations, bringing the
total number of ethanol plants to 11. The additional 40 million liters of
capacity is expected to increase overall capacity in the country to 322
million liters.

The Philippines government currently requires ethanol to comprise 10 percent
of the total annual volume of gasoline distributed by oil companies in the
country. The country currently aims to increase the blend level 20 percent
in 2020 and 85 percent in 2025.

The report also indicates the ethanol imports in the Philippines fell last
year, primarily due to increased local production. Fuel ethanol imports,
which reached 339 million liters in 2014, fell 8 percent last year, reaching
311 million liters. Imports from the U.S. fell by an estimated 28 percent,
from 246 million liters in 2014 to 178 million liters in 2015. The U.S.,
however, still accounted for 57 percent of total fuel ethanol imports last
year, down from 73 percent in 2014.

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Ref:
http://www.ethanolproducer.com/articles/13683/report-predicts-increased-etha
nol-production-in-the-philippines

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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com