Animal fat and vegetable oil imports have skyrocketed over the last several years. Processors say it is because of rising demand for renewable fuel and the tax credits to make it. However, they worry it could lead to trouble in the domestic oilseed industry.
The National Oilseed Processors Association says every pound of imported feedstock takes a pound away from domestic soybean sources. They say adjustments have been made here at home, but supplies continue to be bought from places like China.
The Clean Fuels Alliance says the Renewable Fuels Standard volumes set by the EPA are largely to blame, saying the targets were completely off the mark. They say it constrained the market and put domestic feedstock production at a disadvantage.
