Dynamics and perspectives of emerging products of the soy complex

Abstract

The objective of this study is to conduct an exploratory analysis of the recent dynamics of biodiesel and glycerol—referred to as emerging products of the soybean complex—focusing primarily on the global landscape for these products and outlining future perspectives. Key findings include: (i) there is a growing trend in biodiesel commercialization; (ii) glycerol production has followed this growth, as it is a byproduct of biodiesel production, raising questions about the potential economic and environmental opportunities that could be gained from its utilization, in contrast to issues related to purification levels, which limit its applications - creating a complex scenario; (iii) in the global biodiesel market, European countries stand out as major exporters and importers, (iv) finally, in the global glycerol market, key exporters are well-distributed across Asia, Europe, and the Americas, while China emerges as the leading importer.