Biofuels & Renewable Fuels
Biofuels & Renewable Fuels Recruitment & Executive Search
Specialist retained search across ethanol, biodiesel, HVO, sustainable aviation fuel, renewable feedstocks and low-carbon fuel markets.
Biofuels sits in an unusual place within commodities.
It connects agricultural feedstocks with refineries, fuel blenders, road transport, aviation, shipping and increasingly sophisticated environmental regulation. A move in vegetable oils can alter biodiesel economics. Used cooking oil can become an internationally traded energy feedstock. Aviation policy can reshape demand for waste oils and fats thousands of miles away.
Imperium works across international energy and commodity markets on retained searches spanning biofuels trading, ethanol, biodiesel, renewable diesel, HVO, SAF, feedstock procurement, physical supply, brokerage, origination and commercial leadership.
Our work is typically closest to the commercial market: traders, brokers, originators, producers, refiners, distributors and businesses building renewable-fuels platforms or expanding into new products and geographies.
The sector is now much broader than its traditional association with crop-based ethanol and biodiesel.
Today’s market can involve everything from corn, sugar and vegetable oils to used cooking oil, animal fats, residues and other waste-derived feedstocks, each with its own economics, sustainability requirements and supply chain.
Understanding Biofuels & Renewable Fuels
Different fuels, different feedstocks and very different routes to market.
The biofuels industry now stretches across road transport, aviation and marine fuels, with physical trading linking agricultural and waste-based raw materials to conventional energy infrastructure.
Ethanol
Ethanol remains one of the world’s largest established biofuel markets.
Production is centred heavily around corn in the United States and sugarcane in Brazil, with additional markets across Europe and Asia.
Commercial activity can include physical ethanol trading, blending, imports and exports, terminal supply, gasoline components and producer marketing.
Biodiesel & FAME
Biodiesel markets connect transport fuels directly to agricultural and waste-derived feedstocks.
Common raw materials include rapeseed oil, soybean oil, palm derivatives, used cooking oil and animal fats, with feedstock choice having a major impact on economics and sustainability credentials.
Roles span physical biodiesel trading, blending, feedstock procurement, distribution and refinery or terminal supply.
HVO & Renewable Diesel
Hydrotreated vegetable oil and renewable diesel have created another major renewable-fuels market.
Unlike conventional biodiesel, HVO can be processed into a hydrocarbon fuel much closer in specification to fossil diesel.
The commercial chain stretches across feedstock sourcing, refinery economics, physical product trading, blending and downstream fuel supply.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel
SAF is becoming one of the most commercially important areas of renewable fuels.
Aviation has fewer near-term alternatives to liquid fuel than road transport, pushing airlines, producers, refiners and traders towards SAF supply agreements, feedstock procurement, blending and long-term offtake structures.
Experience here often combines aviation-fuel knowledge with renewable feedstocks and emerging low-carbon fuel economics.
Renewable Feedstocks
The feedstock market has become a commodity sector in its own right.
Used cooking oil, tallow, vegetable oils, residues and other waste-derived materials can move across continents before reaching biodiesel, HVO or SAF production.
Traders and procurement teams need to understand quality, origin, traceability, sustainability certification, logistics and competing end uses.
Physical Trading, Brokerage & Origination
Biofuels has developed an increasingly specialist international trading community.
Commercial teams can operate across ethanol, biodiesel, HVO, SAF, renewable feedstocks, blending components and associated certificates or compliance value.
Some mandates are about running an established book. Others involve launching a new desk, product or regional platform.
Where Agriculture and Energy Collide
Two businesses can both sell renewable diesel while sourcing completely different raw materials.
One may be exposed to vegetable oils. Another may depend heavily on waste fats. A third may be building SAF supply around a different feedstock strategy altogether.
That overlap between agricultural commodities, physical energy, logistics and regulation is what gives the market its complexity.
The Global Biofuels Market
A mature transport-fuel market is expanding into new feedstocks, new products and new end uses.
Biofuels are already produced at meaningful scale, but the market is highly concentrated.
The United States and Brazil remain dominant through ethanol, Indonesia has become a major biodiesel producer, Europe has substantial exposure across biodiesel, HVO and SAF, while India is rapidly increasing ethanol production and blending.
Major Biofuel Producing Markets
2025 production, measured by energy content
| Market | Production |
|---|---|
| United States | 519 TWh |
| Brazil | 314 TWh |
| European Union | 193 TWh |
| Indonesia | 143 TWh |
| India | 69.0 TWh |
| China | 51.6 TWh |
| Canada | 20.3 TWh |
| Thailand | 19.9 TWh |
| Argentina | 17.7 TWh |
| Colombia | 10.0 TWh |
Source: Energy Institute, Statistical Review of World Energy 2026. Figures include biogasoline such as ethanol and biodiesel, including renewable diesel and SAF, adjusted for energy content.
The Competition Is Increasingly for Feedstock
The next stage of biofuels growth is not simply about building more plants.
Ethanol, biodiesel, HVO and SAF can compete for different agricultural and waste-derived inputs, while some feedstocks can serve several fuel markets at once.
Used cooking oil is a good example. A cargo that might once have been viewed principally as waste can now have value to biodiesel producers, renewable-diesel refiners and SAF manufacturers. Tallow, soybean oil, rapeseed oil and other fats and oils face similar competing demand.
At the same time, government mandates can alter those economics quickly. Indonesia moved to a 40% biodiesel blending mandate in 2025, while aviation mandates and incentives are creating an entirely new demand centre for renewable feedstocks.
That makes feedstock procurement, physical trading, certification, logistics and arbitrage increasingly important parts of the market.
The finished fuel may be renewable. The feedstock supplying it is anything but unlimited.
~121 Billion Litres
Global Fuel Ethanol Production
World fuel ethanol production reached around 32 billion gallons in 2025, equivalent to roughly 121 billion litres. The United States remained by far the largest producer, followed by Brazil and India.
1.9 Million Tonnes
SAF Production in 2025
Global sustainable aviation fuel output almost doubled during 2025, but still represented only around 0.6% of total jet-fuel consumption.
80%
Biofuel Demand Covered by GHG Criteria
Performance standards, emissions thresholds and similar GHG requirements already cover around 80% of global biofuel demand, making regulation an unusually important part of the commercial market.
+125 Million Tonnes
Additional Feedstock in a Faster-Growth Scenario
The IEA estimates that reaching its accelerated biofuel-demand scenario by 2030 would require around 125 million additional tonnes of feedstock supply, putting increasing pressure on oils, fats, wastes and residues.
Major Biofuel Companies & Market Participants
The market brings together traditional refiners, agricultural businesses, specialist renewable-fuel producers and some of the world’s largest commodity traders.
Biofuels is unusual because the commercial chain can begin with a farmer, restaurant waste stream or animal-fat processor and finish inside a refinery, aircraft or road-fuel terminal.
That breadth has created a diverse group of market participants.
Producers & Integrated Fuel Companies
Neste
A major global producer of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel, using renewable raw materials including waste and residue streams. Neste currently has renewable-products production across Europe, Asia and North America, with annual nameplate capacity of approximately 5.5 million tonnes and further expansion underway in Rotterdam.
Valero
A significant participant across both established and newer biofuel markets. Valero operates 12 US ethanol plants with around 1.7 billion gallons of annual capacity and, through Diamond Green Diesel, has approximately 1.2 billion gallons of renewable-diesel capacity, alongside SAF capability.
POET
One of the largest dedicated bioethanol producers in North America, operating 35 bioprocessing facilities with around 3.1 billion gallons of annual bioethanol capacity. Its wider production also includes corn oil used as a renewable-diesel feedstock and other agricultural co-products.
RaÃzen
A major Brazilian participant across sugarcane ethanol, second-generation ethanol, sugar and bioenergy. Its vertically integrated model links agricultural production, processing, fuel distribution and international commercial activity, illustrating how closely biofuels can sit alongside agricultural commodities.
Trading, Feedstocks & Physical Supply
Vitol
Active in ethanol and wider renewable-fuels markets, combining commodity trading with physical marketing and logistics. In 2026 Vitol acquired full ownership of a US bioethanol producer it had previously marketed for exclusively, further strengthening its position in North American biofuels.
Trafigura / Greenergy
Trafigura has expanded its biofuels platform through the acquisition of Greenergy’s European and Canadian operations. Greenergy brings biodiesel production, road-fuel distribution and significant physical supply infrastructure, while Trafigura has continued developing SAF and renewable-fuel offtake activity.
Gunvor
A major physical energy trader with established exposure to biofuels trading and production assets. Biofuels form part of Gunvor’s wider transition-focused commodity portfolio alongside natural gas and LNG.
Cargill
Particularly relevant on the feedstock side of the market. Cargill supplies corn, soy and canola-based inputs as well as used cooking oil, tallow and other waste-derived feedstocks into renewable-diesel and biodiesel markets, linking agricultural supply chains directly with energy demand.
Source: Company annual reports, investor materials and official corporate information from Neste, Valero, POET, RaÃzen, Vitol, Trafigura, Gunvor and Cargill. Company activities, figures and market descriptions reflect the latest publicly available information at time of publication.
Market context: Companies are included as examples of significant participants in global biofuels and renewable-fuels markets. Inclusion does not imply a commercial relationship with or endorsement of Imperium Commodity Search.
The Market Has More Than One Starting Point
An ethanol producer can begin with corn or sugarcane. A renewable-diesel refinery may be competing for used cooking oil and animal fats. A merchant trader can sit between producers, blenders and fuel buyers without owning either end of the chain.
That creates an unusually broad commercial talent pool spanning agriculture, refining, physical energy trading and specialist renewable fuels.
The next barrel may never come out of the ground.
Biofuels & Renewable Fuels Talent Across Global Trading Hubs
The market is global, but the commercial expertise is often intensely regional.
Biofuels talent tends to develop around a combination of feedstock availability, refining capacity, regulation, blending mandates and physical trade flows.
The US and Brazil dominate ethanol. Europe has deep expertise across biodiesel, HVO, SAF and certification. Asia brings enormous agricultural supply, fast-growing fuel demand and increasingly important trading routes for waste oils and renewable feedstocks.
Asia-Pacific
Singapore, Indonesia, China, India and major Asian fuel markets
Asia-Pacific brings together some of the world’s largest renewable-fuel growth markets with major feedstock origins.
Indonesia is central to biodiesel through its palm-based programme, while China is an important source and trading centre for used cooking oil and waste-derived feedstocks. India is rapidly expanding ethanol blending, and Singapore provides a natural hub for international trading and regional commercial leadership.
Talent can sit across biofuel trading, UCO and feedstock procurement, biodiesel, SAF, blending, logistics and platform development.
UK & Europe
London, Geneva, ARA, Rotterdam and major European refining centres
Europe has one of the most developed commercial markets for biodiesel, HVO, SAF and renewable feedstocks.
Strong regulation and sustainability requirements have created specialist talent around UCO, tallow, vegetable oils, certification, blending, physical supply and cross-border trade.
ARA remains particularly important because of its concentration of refineries, storage, terminals and international trading businesses, while London and Geneva host many of the commercial teams managing those flows.
The Americas
Houston, Chicago, New York, São Paulo and major US & Brazilian fuel markets
The United States combines vast corn ethanol production with sophisticated physical fuel trading, blending and renewable-fuel compliance markets. Brazil brings its own deep commercial ecosystem around sugarcane ethanol, fuel distribution and export flows.
The wider region also supports growing activity in renewable diesel, SAF, feedstock procurement and low-carbon fuel markets. Relevant experience can span ethanol trading, physical blending, producer marketing, RIN exposure, feedstock sourcing, renewable diesel and aviation-fuel development.
The Map Changes With the Product
An ethanol trader may naturally look towards the US and Brazil.
A UCO or waste-oils specialist may spend far more time thinking about Asia and Europe.
A SAF platform can pull together feedstock, refining, aviation and trading experience from several regions at once.
That is why the strongest international searches in this market often follow trade flows first and office locations second.
Who We Search for in Biofuels & Renewable Fuels
Commercial talent across physical fuels, renewable feedstocks, aviation markets, origination and new-platform development.
Biofuels careers can cross some unusual boundaries.
A trader may come from oil products but build a book around ethanol. A vegetable-oils specialist may move into renewable feedstocks. Someone with years in jet fuel can become highly relevant to SAF.
That crossover is part of what makes the talent market so interesting.
Biofuels Trading & Brokerage
These roles sit closest to the physical fuel market.
Experience can cover ethanol, biodiesel, FAME, HVO, renewable diesel, blending components, imports, exports and physical arbitrage.
Depending on the business, the role may involve outright trading, brokerage, producer marketing or developing new customer flows.
Typical searches include:
Ethanol Trader · Biodiesel Trader · Biofuels Trader · Renewable Fuels Trader · HVO Trader · Physical Fuels Broker · Senior Trader · Trading Manager
Renewable Feedstocks
Feedstock expertise has become increasingly valuable as renewable-fuel capacity expands.
Commercial teams can work across UCO, tallow, vegetable oils, residues, waste fats and other renewable raw materials, often supplying several competing end markets.
The strongest people usually combine commodity instincts with a good understanding of quality, traceability, certification and physical logistics.
Typical searches include:
UCO Trader · Feedstocks Trader · Waste Oils Trader · Renewable Feedstock Buyer · Procurement Manager · Origination Manager · Feedstock Commercial Manager
SAF, HVO & Emerging Fuel Markets
SAF and renewable diesel are creating new commercial roles around markets that are still developing quickly.
People may sit across physical supply, aviation customers, refinery offtake, long-term agreements, feedstock strategy and commercial origination.
Some hires come directly from renewables. Others bring highly transferable experience from conventional jet fuel, refining or oil products.
Typical searches include:
SAF Trader · SAF Originator · Renewable Diesel Trader · HVO Trader · Aviation Fuels Commercial · Offtake Manager · Business Development Director
Origination, Platforms & Commercial Leadership
Not every mandate arrives with an established desk waiting to be filled.
Businesses entering biofuels frequently need people who can create relationships, open a geography, launch a product or build an entire commercial capability around them.
These searches often combine market credibility with the ability to hire, structure and grow a business.
Typical searches include:
Head of Biofuels · Head of Renewable Fuels · Head of Trading · Head of Origination · Commercial Director · Platform Lead · Regional Head · Managing Director
Some Careers Cross Markets Better Than Job Titles Suggest
A conventional fuels trader with the right blending knowledge may understand part of the opportunity immediately.
An agricultural trader can bring deep feedstock expertise.
A jet-fuel specialist may already know the customers that a SAF business wants to reach.
In a market changing this quickly, transferable commercial experience can be just as valuable as a perfectly matching CV.
A Focused Approach to Biofuels & Renewable Fuels Search
A fast-changing market needs people who understand both the commodity and what is changing around it.
Biofuels talent rarely sits neatly inside one traditional market.
The right person may have spent years trading ethanol, sourcing waste oils, supplying jet fuel, marketing refinery output or building relationships across agricultural commodities. Increasingly, businesses want people who can combine that existing market knowledge with the commercial realities of HVO, SAF, renewable diesel and changing feedstock flows.
Imperium works selectively on retained mandates across international energy and commodity markets, limiting the number of clients we represent within each specialist area.
That gives us the freedom to map the market properly, including people who are performing strongly where they are and may not be actively considering a move.
For Clients
If you are hiring across ethanol, biodiesel, HVO, SAF, renewable feedstocks, physical trading, brokerage, procurement, origination or senior commercial leadership, we can build the search around the products, trade flows and relationships that matter to your business.
For Professionals
The renewable-fuels market is pulling experienced people together from several established commodity sectors. If your background sits across biofuels, conventional fuels, feedstocks, agricultural commodities, aviation fuels, physical trading or commercial origination, we are always open to a confidential conversation about where that experience could take you next.
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