Neste Addresses USDA Report on Suspected Fraudulent Palm Oil Shipments as Company Continues to Uphold Supply Chain Integrity

Neste Addresses USDA Report on Suspected Fraudulent Palm Oil Shipments as Company Continues to Uphold Supply Chain Integrity

(IN BRIEF) The USDA Biofuels Annual Report for September 2023 suggests that Neste, a renewable products refinery in Singapore, may have received fraudulent volumes of used cooking oil (UCO), specifically virgin palm oil from Indonesia, exported fraudulently as UCO via China. Neste takes such cases seriously and investigates them thoroughly. The company evaluates the quality and authenticity of its raw material volumes through laboratory analyses. Neste’s recent analyses of UCO received from China contradict the USDA’s assertions, leading the company to believe that the reference to Neste in the report may be a mistake or misunderstanding. Neste will contact the USDA to discuss these assertions.

(PRESS RELEASE) ESPOO, 9-Sep-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — The recently published USDA Biofuels Annual Report (1 September, 2023) suggests that Neste may have received fraudulent used cooking oil (UCO) volumes at its renewable products refinery in Singapore, specifically virgin palm oil from Indonesia exported fraudulently as UCO via China.

Neste takes suspected fraud cases seriously and investigates them accordingly. In addition, the company continuously evaluates the quality and authenticity of the raw material volumes it receives, conducting thorough laboratory analyses of the samples of UCO volumes it receives to its terminals from China. Neste’s recent analyses of UCO received from China do not support the USDA’s assertions, hence the company believes that the reference to Neste in the USDA report is either a mistake or based on a misunderstanding.

Neste will contact the appropriate authorities at the USDA to discuss and learn more about the assertions in the report.

Robust methods to prevent fraud in its renewable raw material supply chains

Neste sources traceable UCO and other renewable raw materials globally from carefully selected suppliers. Neste evaluates its suppliers and accepts renewable raw materials only from those suppliers that are able to meet strict criteria for sustainability and end-market regulation. Neste ensures traceability of the sourced raw materials as is required by law, and uses audits, carried out by independent third-party experts and Neste itself, to monitor sustainability performance of suppliers. This also helps Neste reduce the risk of fraud within its supply chains.

Neste does not import conventional biofuels (i.e. “biobased diesel” in the USDA report) nor renewable diesel (i.e. “hydrogenation derived renewable diesel” in the USDA report) from China or Indonesia to the European market or elsewhere. Instead, Neste produces its high-quality renewable products such as renewable diesel at its own refineries. Hence any suggestions that Neste would somehow be involved in the Chinese or Indonesian biofuels exports to Europe or elsewhere are incorrect.

Neste in brief

Neste (NESTE, Nasdaq Helsinki) creates solutions for combating climate change and accelerating a shift to a circular economy. The company refines waste, residues and innovative raw materials into renewable fuels and sustainable feedstock for plastics and other materials.

As the world’s leading producer of sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel and a forerunner in developing renewable and circular feedstock solutions for polymers and chemicals, Neste helps its customers to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20 million tons annually by 2030.

The company’s ambition is to make the Porvoo oil refinery in Finland the most sustainable refinery in Europe by 2030. Neste is committed to reaching carbon-neutral production by 2035, and will reduce the carbon emission intensity of sold products by 50% by 2040. Neste has also set high standards for biodiversity, human rights and the supply chain. The company has consistently been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices and the Global 100 list of the world’s most sustainable companies. In 2022, Neste’s revenue stood at EUR 25.7 billion. Read more: neste.com

Media Contact:

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media@neste.com

SOURCE: Neste Corporation