We broker crude and refined glycerine. Crude glycerine is the co-product of biodiesel and oleochemical production, and it has an advantage many sellers do not realise they hold: it is listed in Annex IX Part A of the EU Renewable Energy Directive, at point (i), which puts it in the advanced feedstock category rather than the capped Part B category. Four numbers then decide which buyer you are actually talking to: purity, MONG, ash and residual methanol.
Two products, several markets
The gap between crude and refined is refining capacity, and it is not evenly distributed. A producer sitting near a refiner has options a producer in the wrong location does not, which is often worth more than a point of purity.
- Crude glycerine, typically around 80 % glycerol, straight from transesterification. Carries salts, methanol and organic residue. Outlets: advanced biofuel and biogas routes, glycerine refiners, and industrial use.
- Technical and refined glycerine, typically 99 % and above, after refining and distillation. Outlets: chemicals, resins, antifreeze, personal care, tobacco humectants and animal feed.
- USP and pharmaceutical grade, the highest specification, with its own documentation requirements and a much narrower buyer list.
What buyers screen on
| Glycerol content (purity) | Percentage. The headline number: roughly 80 % for crude, 99 %+ for refined grades. |
|---|---|
| MONG | Matter organic non-glycerol. The organic impurity load, and the key indicator of refining difficulty. |
| Ash / salt content | Sodium or potassium salts from the catalyst. Drives refining cost and rules out some outlets outright. |
| Methanol | Residual from transesterification. A safety, transport and classification issue as much as a quality one. |
| Water content | Settlement weight and processing yield. |
| pH | Handling, storage and materials compatibility. |
| Colour | APHA or Gardner. Matters most for refined and technical grades. |
| Chlorides and sulphates | Corrosion and downstream process impact. |
| Feedstock origin | Vegetable, animal or used cooking oil origin. Decides certification and, for some outlets, acceptability. |
| Certification | ISCC EU where the glycerine is heading into the biofuel or biogas chain. |
| Heavy metals, DEG/MEG | For refined, food and pharmaceutical grades. |
The Annex IX angle worth knowing
Crude glycerine sits in Annex IX Part A at point (i) in Directive (EU) 2018/2001. Part A is the advanced category, which is a different and generally more favourable position than the Part B category that used cooking oil and category 1 and 2 animal fats occupy under a 1.7 % cap.
This matters because a good deal of crude glycerine is still sold as a low-value disposal problem by producers who treat it as waste from the biodiesel plant rather than as a listed advanced feedstock. Where the certification supports it, the biogas and advanced biofuel routes can pay materially better than the industrial default.
Annex IX has been amended since 2018, so confirm the current letter before writing it into a contract. The full lists are on our Annex IX reference page.
How we broker it
We act for biodiesel and oleochemical producers with continuous co-product to place, and for refiners, biogas operators and chemical buyers sourcing it. Glycerine production does not stop while a seller shops for a better number, so most of what we do here is term rather than spot: a reliable home for every batch, with the analysis, certification and tank logistics agreed once.
Frequently asked questions
Is crude glycerine an Annex IX feedstock?
Yes. Crude glycerine is listed in Annex IX Part A at point (i) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001, which places it in the advanced feedstock category rather than the capped Part B category. Annex IX has been amended since, so confirm the current letter against the consolidated text before contracting.
What is MONG in a glycerine specification?
Matter organic non-glycerol: the organic impurity content beyond glycerol and water. It is the best single indicator of how difficult and expensive the material will be to refine, which is why refiners price against it directly rather than against purity alone.
What purity is crude glycerine?
Typically around 80 % glycerol, though it varies with the plant and the feedstock. Refined and technical grades run 99 % and above. The gap between the two is refining capacity, and access to a refiner is often worth more to a producer than a point of purity.
Why does methanol content matter?
It is residual from transesterification and it is a safety, transport and classification issue as much as a quality one. Buyers and terminals both ask about it early, and a high figure narrows the list of parties who can legally handle the cargo.
Can glycerine go to biogas?
Yes, and it is a well-established outlet. Crude glycerine is a readily digestible, energy-dense co-substrate for anaerobic digestion. Whether it is worth more there than in a refining or chemical outlet depends on purity, salt content, certification and location.
Do you handle refined and pharmaceutical grade?
Yes, though the buyer list narrows sharply as the specification tightens, and USP and pharmaceutical grades carry documentation requirements well beyond a normal certificate of analysis. Tell us the grade and the intended use and we will say plainly whether we are the right broker for it.
Who to ask about Crude & refined glycerine
Ask us. Glycerine to place? Send the purity, the MONG, the ash and the methanol figure and we will tell you which market you are in. We answer the same working day, in English or Dutch, and there is no charge and no obligation for a market read or a second opinion on a specification.
You get Bart van den Brug directly, not a call centre and not a form that goes nowhere. We are an independent broker: we never take title, we do not trade our own book, and we are paid a commission only on business that actually concludes. That is why we will also tell you when the answer is no.
+31 6 115 83 448
[email protected]
Sustainable Commodities 3 B.V., Lemmer, the Netherlands
Last reviewed 09 August 2026 by Bart van den Brug, Sustainable Commodities 3 B.V. (KvK 99665042), Lemmer, the Netherlands. Regulatory references are given for orientation and are not legal advice; verify against the current Official Journal text before contracting.