US Finalizes Biofuel Blending Quotas for 2026 and 2027

The US government, on Friday (27th), published its new mandatory biofuel blending volumes for American oil refineries, demanding more fuels made from corn and other agricultural products than initially proposed. This decision is largely seen as a victory for farmers. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set the total biofuel obligations for 2026 at 26.81 billion Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) and for 2027 at 27.02 billion RINs. RINs are credits within the renewable fuels program. The EPA stated that these total mandates include 70% of the blending obligations that were waived under the small refinery exemption program during the compliance years of 2023 to 2025. Previously, in June 2025, the EPA had proposed total biofuel blending volumes of 24.02 billion RINs for 2026 and 24.46 billion RINs for 2027. Furthermore, the EPA added on Friday that, starting in 2028, foreign fuels and raw materials will receive only half the RINs compared to products manufactured in the United States. This new rule brings an end to a period of uncertainty for both the agricultural and refining sectors, whose fortunes can be significantly impacted by the country's biofuel policies. Farmers and biofuel producers typically advocate for high quotas to stimulate demand for their products, while refineries generally prefer lower quotas to manage costs.