In FY2008, total amount of biomass fuels produced in the world scored as follows; 67 million kℓ for bioethanol, and 12 million kℓ for biodiesel. Compared to records of FY2007, 34 % increase for bioethanol, and 33% increase for biodiesel.
Among southeastern Asian countries Thailand stood as the biggest biofuel producer, producing 300,000 kℓ of bioethanol and 400,000 kℓ of biodiesel in FY2008.

The domestic production of primary energy in Thailand during FY2008 came up to 62,695 ktoe (kilo-ton oil equivalent), of which renewable energy was 19,295 ktoe (30.8 %), biofuel was 626 ktoe (1 %). The renewable energy resources are woody waste, chaff, bagasse and waste agricultural products.

The Thai government aggressively promotes domestic production of biofuels because of the following reasons:

(1) It intends to cut down, five years later, import of oil from overseas by 1,000,000 kℓ to save 42 billion bahts (about 120 billion yen). (Oil import in FY2008 scored 40 million kℓ)

(2) It expects the increase of income of farmers, by producing biofuels of higher market value than conventional agricultural products.

Reportedly, in Bangkok as of April 2010, market price of regular diesel oil was 29.39 bahts (83 yen) per liter, and 28.19 bahts (80 yen) for B2-fuel (diesel oil containing 2 % of biodiesel). The latter is sold at somewhat cheaper price.

Fig. Bioethanol Producing Countries and Their Share

Fig.  Biodiesel Producing Countries and Their Share

Table  Domestic Production of Primary Energy in Thailand (FY2008)

Kind of Energy Resource		Amount of Generated Energy (ktoe)
Traditional Energy	Coal	4,743	42,507
	Crude Oil	7,318
	Condensate	3,900
	Natural Gas	24,969
	Hydro and Misc.	1,577
Renewable Energy	Wood	11,770	19,295
	Chaff	1,814
	Bagasse	3,486
	Waste Agri. Product	2,205
	Garbage	4
	Biogas	16
Biofuel	Bioethanol	240	626
	Biodiesel	386
Others	Black Liquer etc.	267	267
Total			62,695

Fig.  Domestic Production of Primary Energy in Thailand (FY2008)

Souces:
1) Handbook of Economy and Industry of Thailand (2008 issue) published by AID International Ltd.,  2) website of REN21 (http://www.ren21.net), 3) Bangkok Post  et al