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California's LCFS Data Confirms Slow Start for Biofuels in 2026

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California's low-carbon fuel standard data on Friday confirms a slow start to 2026 for biofuel production, with Q1 volumes falling for ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel.

Ethanol production in Q1 2026 totaled 342 million gallons compared with 353 million gallons in Q4 2025. However, corn-based ethanol production in Q1 2026 totaled 274 million gallons compared with 279 million gallons in Q4 2025.

Biodiesel produced in Q1 2026 totaled 41.7 million gallons, compared with 53.8 million gallons in Q4 2025.

Soybean oil-based biodiesel produced in Q1 2026 totaled 15.6 million gallons, compared with 11.4 million gallons in Q4 2025.

Renewable diesel produced in Q1 2026 totaled 456 million gallons vs. 530.1 million gallons in Q4 2025.

Soybean-based renewable diesel produced in Q1 2026 totaled 169 million gallons vs. 163 million in Q4 2025.

LCFS credits in California generated in Q1 2026 for ethanol totaled 451,014 mt, down from 547,446 mt in Q4 2025. Biodiesel credits generated in Q1 2026 totaled 196,466 mt, compared with 285,753 mt.

For renewable diesel, total credits in Q1 2026 amounted to 2 million mt, compared with 2.5 million mt in Q4 2025.

The total credits generated in California's low-carbon fuel standard in Q1 2026 amounted to 233.99 million mt of credits, and 197.12 million MT deficits have been generated, for a net 36.86 million MT credits.

(Please note that these figures are subject to change as regulated entities may correct their quarterly data.)

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