Latest Oils & Fats International News

The USA’s National Biodiesel Board (NBB) has strongly criticised the US Department of Commerce (USDC)’s preliminary decision to lower countervailing duties on Argentine biodiesel from 72% to 10%.

A US judge has slashed an US$80.3M damages award against German chemicals group Bayer to US$25.3M, in a case where a jury ruled the company’s glyphosate weedkiller as a “substantial factor” in causing a man’s cancer, Reuters reported.

Kerfoot, UK, has signed a deal with distributor Cornelius Polska which will see its bespoke personal care oils available throughout Poland.

US bio-chemicals firm Genomatica has acquired the renewable chemical assets of the REG Life Sciences division of the Renewable Energy Group, a leading supplier of advanced biofuels in North America.

Spanish olive oil processing firm Deoleo has signed an agreement with some of the country’s leading cooperatives in an effort to achieve 100% sustainability for 80% of its olive oil by 2023, World Grain reported on 12 June.

Leading Qatari food investor Hassad Food Company has acquired a 22.5% stake in the world’s largest organic grain and oilseed company, Sunshine Foods International, reports Global AgInvesting.

French oil giant Total has started up production at its La Mede biorefinery, with the first two batches of biofuel coming on stream, the company said on 3 July.

The state of Louisiana and its governor John Bel Edwards have committed US$20M to complete a rail project for the Port of Greater Baton Rouge which will allow grain, soyabeans, corn and other commodities to be transferred more efficiently from farmers to export vessels.

Finnish renewable diesel producer Neste and chemicals giant LyondellBasell have successfully produced bio-based polypropylene and low-density polyethylene at a commercial scale, the companies announced on 18 June.

Russian state bank VTB has reached an agreement to buy a controlling interest in railway holding company RusTransCom (RTC group).

Genetically engineered (GE) wheat plants resistant to Roundup glyphosate weed killer have been discovered in an unplanted agricultural field in the US state of Washington, World Grain reported on 10 June.