U.S. Biofuels Could Play Key Role in Global Maritime Framework

April 24, 2026

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by Cindy Zimmerman (Energy.AgWired.com) Ahead of the upcoming meeting of the International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environment Protection Committee next week, the American Biofuels Maritime Initiative (ABMI) is calling on U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to support a central role for American-made biofuels in the future of global maritime shipping policy.

In a letter to Secretary Rubio, ABMI stressed that U.S. leadership is critical to ensuring the discussions on a global maritime fuels framework remain technology-neutral and include commercially available solutions such as ethanol, biodiesel, renewable diesel, and bio-LNG.

“With the U.S. leading the way, it is estimated that LNG could supply 50% of the maritime fuel mix by 2050, with bio-LNG contributing an additional 13%.2 Biofuels have a current market share of just ~0.3% of the energy for global maritime shipping, but could move to supply 5% of the global maritime fuel market, equating to a demand increase of 4–5 billion gallons, while simultaneously growing corn demand by 1.5 billion bushels or more.”

The American Biofuels Maritime Initiative is co-chaired by the American Biogas Council and the Renewable Fuels Association and includes National Corn Growers Association, Growth Energy, Marquis, and Roeslein Renewables as members.

“American biofuel producers stand ready to supply new markets and reinforce U.S. leadership in global energy,” said Geoff Cooper, President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association. “As the International Maritime Organization considers the future of maritime fuels, we appreciate the United States working to advance a technology-neutral approach that fully includes American-made biofuels. Expanding into maritime markets will drive new demand for U.S. farmers, support rural economies, and strengthen our nation’s position as a global energy leader.”

The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) will meet for its 84th session in person at IMO Headquarters in London (with remote participation enabled) starting on Monday, April 27. READ MORE

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American Biofuels Maritime Initiative Urges State Department to Champion U.S. Biofuels in Upcoming Global Maritime Framework Discussions (Renewable Fuels Association)
Ethanol, biogas groups call on Rubio to champion biofuels in IMO negotiations (Ethanol Producer Magazine)

Excerpt from Renewable Fuels Association: As the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) advances discussions on a global maritime fuels framework, ABMI seeks to emphasize the importance of global policies that prioritize affordability, reliability, and energy diversity. U.S. leadership is critical to ensuring the framework remains technology-neutral and inclusive of commercially available solutions such as ethanol, biodiesel, renewable diesel, and bio-LNG. A workable framework could help to expand export market opportunities for U.S. fuels and support the President’s “American First Trade Policy Agenda.”

ABMI noted the Environmental Protection Agency’s Renewable Fuel Standard policy reinforces the importance of homegrown energy, recently finalizing a 26.81 billion gallon of ethanol equivalent obligation for renewable fuel use in 2026.

However, despite strong production capacity, American biofuel producers face demand-constrained markets alongside economic challenges for farmers, including volatile commodity prices and ongoing operational losses. Expansion of opportunities within maritime markets would alleviate hardships faced by U.S. farmers, while boosting U.S. agricultural output.

“American biofuel producers stand ready to supply new markets and reinforce U.S. leadership in global energy,” said Geoff Cooper, President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association. “As the International Maritime Organization considers the future of maritime fuels, we appreciate the United States working to advance a technology-neutral approach that fully includes American-made biofuels. Expanding into maritime markets will drive new demand for U.S. farmers, support rural economies, and strengthen our nation’s position as a global energy leader.”

“This is one of the best opportunities the U.S. has had in recent memory to create new markets for American-made biofuels. Support by the Administration now will catalyze new investment, infrastructure, and projects that largely benefit American farms,” said Patrick Serfass, Executive Director of the American Biogas Council.

ABMI appreciates the State Department’s engagement and remains committed to working with the Trump Administration ahead of and beyond the upcoming MEPC 84 session.

A full list of our recommendations can be found in the letter.

For more information about biofuel and maritime market opportunities or to join this growing coalition, visit biofuelsformaritime.org or contact Jessica Johnson. READ MORE

Excerpt from Ethanol Producer Magazine: A proposed Net Zero Framework was approved by the IMO’s Marine Environmental Protection Committee in April 2025. A vote to formally adopt the framework was expected to be held during the extraordinary session of the MEPC, which convened Oct. 14-17, 2025. The IMO, however, on Oct. 17 announced efforts to formally adopt the framework would be delayed for one year, with the extraordinary session set to reconvene in October 2026.

The MEPC is scheduled to hold its 84th session from April 27 through May 1. The meeting is expected to focus on mid-term GHG reduction measures. In preparation for that meeting, the U.S. on March 6 submitted comments to the MEPC regarding the committee’s proposals. The comments, which were posted for public viewing on the IMO website on March 16, highlight the provisions of the proposed Net-Zero Framework that the U.S. disagrees with and includes suggestions for elements that should and should not be included in a potential alternative proposal crafted by IMO in the future.

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As IMO discussions on the future of maritime markets continue to advance, the ABMI said it sees an opportunity to ensure that U.S. farmers and biofuel producers take the lead on creating the next generation of marine fuels. “A workable framework could unleash American energy to move global shipping, expanding export market opportunities for U.S. fuels, supporting the ‘American First Trade Policy Agenda,’ and supporting the Administration’s promise to deliver long-term certainty and stability for America’s farmers,” the ABMI wrote.

Although the U.S. EPA recently finalized strong 2026 and 2027 Renewable Fuel Standard blending obligations, the ABMI said U.S. farmers continue to face tightening margins, volatile commodity prices and ongoing uncertainty in global export markets. “Corn farmers across the U.S. are confronting a fourth consecutive year of operating losses and livestock farmers continue to face increasing input costs and market instability,” the ABMI wrote. “Our biofuel producers need a stronger source of demand to bolster rural economies, and they can deliver on the maritime challenge, as they continue to have the production capacity to supply new markets. For the first time ever, EPA determined that consumption, not production, is the primary constraint on the renewable CNG/LNG market, indicating that renewable natural gas producers are outpacing demand in the U.S. vehicle transportation market. Maritime offers a major new opportunity.”

The letter references the comments the U.S. filed with the MEPC in March, noting that the AMBI shares the U.S. government’s concerns that the existing IMO proposal is unfairly and unscientifically biased against certain fuel types. The AMBI also applauded the administration for insisting that any framework include “recognition of biofuels as viable marine fuels.”

The letter is signed by AMBI members, which include the American Biogas Council, Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy National Corn Growers Association, Marquis Energy and Roeslein Renewables. A full copy of the letter is available on the RFA website. READ MORE