Liquid Biofuels in Latin America: Perspectives
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18800/quimica.202601.001Keywords:
Liquid biofuels, Biodiesel, Bioethanol, Latin AmericaAbstract
This study analyzes the liquid biofuels market in Latin America, focusing on biodiesel and bioethanol as alternatives for decarbonizing transportation. The objective is to evaluate the regional landscape, the leading markets of Brazil and Argentina, and the state of scientific research in this area. The methodology consisted of a literature review with quantitative analysis of publications (2016-2025) and a review of data from international organizations such as the IEA and IRENA. The results highlight that Brazil leads the region, accounting for 90% of total biofuel production. A sustained regional growth of 3.7% in biofuels was identified over the last decade, driven by policies such as RenovaBio. Finally, the study concludes that the lack of stable regulatory frameworks in other countries is the main challenge to attracting private investment.
Downloads
References
Canabarro, N.I.; Silva-Ortiz,P.; Nogueira, L.A.H.; Cantarella, H.; Maciel-Filho, R.; Souza, G.M. Sustainability assessment of ethanol and biodiesel production in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Guatemala. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 2023, 171, 113019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2022.113019
IEA. Global Energy Review, 2025. https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/5b169aa1-bc88-4c96-b828-aaa50406ba80/GlobalEnergyReview2025.pdf
Zhang, R. & Zhang J. Long-term pathways to deep decarbonization of the transport sector in the post-COVID world. Transport Pol. 2021, 110:28–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2021.05.018
Alonso-Jaramillo, J.; Alonso-Gomez, L. (2024). Comparison of CO2 emissions and potential efficiency between biodiesel and renewable diesel fuels. Revista SPA. 2024, 15 (1). e-1055 https://doi.org/10.22579/22484817.1055
Inesem. Tipos de biocarburantes: bioetanol, biodiésel, biohidrodiésel, biogás y biobutanol, 2017. https://www.inesem.es/revistadigital/gestion-integrada/biocarburantes
OLADE. Biofuels In Latin America and The Caribbean: Key to The Decarbonization Of Transportation, 2017. https://www.olade.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/BOLETIN-FEBERO-INGLES.pdf
National Agency for Petroleum. Natural gas and biofuels - RenovaBio biofuels certification dynamic panel, 2021. Renovabio Panel.
Market Research. Latin America Biofuels Market. 2025. https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/latin-america-biofuels-market-21775
Energy Institute. Statistical Review of World Energy, 2025. https://www.energyinst.org/statistical-review
IRENA. Sustainable bioenergy pathways in Latin America Promoting bioenergy investment and sustainability, 2024. https://www.irena.org/Publications
Hilbert, J. Estado actual y desarrollo potencial de los biocombustibles de bajas emisiones en Latinoamérica, 2025. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/389980257_Estado_actual_y_desarrollo_potencial_de_los_biocombustibles_de_bajas_emisiones_en_Latinoamerica?channel=doi&linkId=67daf2ab3ad6d174c48cbf32&showFulltext=true
IEA Bioenergy. Biofuels in Emerging Markets: Potential for sustainable production and consumption, 2023. https://www.ieabioenergy.com/blog/publications/biofuels-in-emerging-markets-potential-for-sustainable-production-and-consumption-in-argentina-brazil-colombia-and-guatemala/
Lopes, M.L.; De Lima Paulillo, S.C.; Godoy, R. A.; Lorenzi, M. S.; Carvalho Giometti, F.H.; Domingues Bernardino, C.; De Amorim Neto, H.B. Brazilian journal of microbiology. 2016, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjm.2016.10.003
OLADE. Una introducción al sector de los biocombustibles en América Latina y el Caribe, 2025. https://www.olade.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Nota_Tecnica_Biocombustibles_OLADE.pdf
Mendonça, I.M.; Paes, O. A R L.; Sousa Maia, P.J.; Souza, M.P.; De Almeida. R.A.; Silva, C.; Duvoisin, S.; De Freitas, F. A. Renewable Energy. 2019, 130, pp.103-110. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2018.06.059
Farzad, S.; Mandegari, M.; Guo, M.; Haigh, K. F.; Shah, N.; Görgens, J.F. Biotechnology for biofuels. 2017, 10 (1), pp. 87-87. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13068-017-0761-9
Carneiro, M.L.; Pradelle,F.; Leal Braga, S.; De Paula Gomes, M.S.; Fonseca de Aguiar Martins, A.R.; Turkovics, F.; Chaar Pradelle, R.N.Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 2017, 73, pp. 632-653. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.01.152
Fankos, P.; Laura van Soest, H.; Schaeffer, R.; Redman, L.; Köberle, A.C.; Macaluso, N.; Evangelopoulou, S.; De Vita, A. Sha, F.; Qimi, C.; Kejun, J.; Mathur, R. Shekhar, S.; Dewi, R.G.; Oshiro, K.; Fujimori, S.; Park, C.; Safonov, G.; Iyer, G. Energy system transitions and low-carbon pathways in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, EU-28, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States. Energy. 2017, 216(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2020.119385
Vega, L.P.; Bautista, K. T.; Campos, H.; Daza, S. Vargas, G. Biofuel production in Latin America: A review for Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica and Colombia. Energy Reports. 2024,11, pp. 28–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2023.10.060
Vidal, F.D.F. (2019) Produção e uso de biocombustíveis no Brasil. Cad. Set. ETENE. 2019, pp. 1-13. https://www.bnb.gov.br/s482-dspace/bitstream/123456789/630/1/2019_CDS_79.pdf
Agencia Nacional do Petróleo, Gás Natural e Biocombustíveis. Oil, Natural Gas and Biofuels Statistical Yearbook 2025. 2025. https://www.gov.br/anp/pt-br/centrais-de-conteudo/publicacoes/anuario-estatistico/oil-natural-gas-and-biofuels-statistical-yearbook-2025
Degreenia, J. Wynne, G. Biofuels Annual. 2023. United STates Departament of Agriculture, Sep. 2023.
United Nations. Energy Statistics Pocketbook 2025. https://unstats.un.org/unsd/energystats/pubs/documents/2025pb-web.pdf
Ciani, M. Informe Biocombustibles. Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería y Pesca de Argentina. Enero 2020. https://www.magyp.gob.ar/sitio/areas/bioenergia/informes/_archivos//000004_Informes%20Biocombustibles%202020/200100_Informe%20biocombustibles%20(Enero%202020).pdf
IRENA. Renewable Energy Statistics 2023. International Renewable Energy Agency. 2023. https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2023/Jul/IRENA_Renewable_energy_statistics_2023.pdf
Cortez, L.A.B.; Leal, M.R.L.V.; Horta Nogueira, L.A. (eds). Sugarcane Bioenergy for Sustainable Development. Expanding Production in Latin America and Africa. Routledge: Londres, 2018. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429457920
CEPAL. Integración energética y transición justa en América Latina y el Caribe: oportunidades y desafíos hacia 2050. 2025. https://www.cepal.org/es/enfoques/integracion-energetica-transicion-justa-america-latina-caribe-oportunidades-desafios-2050
KPMG. Turning the tide in scaling renewables. 2023. https://assets.kpmg.com/content/dam/kpmgsites/xx/pdf/2023/11/ttsr-full-report.pdf
