Universal Biofuels
Universal Biofuels Private Limited is an Indian manufacturer producing biodiesel, refined glycerin, and edible refined palm oil from an integrated 80-million-gallon-per-year facility in Kakinada, supplying India's government Oil Marketing Companies and industrial customers across mining, paint, pharma, and food sectors as a subsidiary of Aemetis, Inc.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersHyderabad, India
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Universal Biofuels does
Universal Biofuels Private Limited is an Indian industrial manufacturing company that produces renewable chemicals, fuels, and natural oils from a single integrated multiproduct facility located in Kakinada, a deep-water port city in Andhra Pradesh. The company's three core product lines are biodiesel (fatty acid methyl ester) produced from non-edible palm stearin and refined palm oil, refined glycerin refined to 98% purity, and edible refined palm oil produced through degumming, bleaching, and deodorizing. Biodiesel conforms to ASTM and EN standards; refined glycerin meets USP and IP standards; the laboratory is also certified for Kosher testing. The Kakinada plant has nameplate capacity of 80 million gallons per year across biodiesel (450 tons/day), crude palm oil pretreatment (400 tons/day), refined glycerin (55 tons/day), and 21,000 tons of bulk storage, and is connected via a 7km underground pipeline to the deep-water port of Kakinada, supporting both domestic sales and exports under Export Oriented Unit status.
The company operates a sales-led B2B go-to-market, selling biodiesel primarily through competitive-bid government contracts with India's three state-owned Oil Marketing Companies to support national biofuel blending mandates, and selling refined glycerin and natural oils into industrial customers across mining, infrastructure, paint, pharmaceutical, personal care, and food processing segments. Recent contract wins include approximately $24 million of biodiesel supply through March 2026 covering 27 million liters, plus an additional $17 million contract for 18 million liters over a 3-month period. Pricing is set through competitive allocation processes with OMCs and is not publicly disclosed for industrial customers.
Universal Biofuels is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aemetis, Inc., a US-based industrial biotechnology company listed on NASDAQ (ticker AMTX) and headquartered in Cupertino, California. The company has 17 years of operational history and is preparing for a potential Initial Public Offering on the India stock exchange to sell a minority equity stake, subject to market conditions. Corporate headquarters are in Hyderabad, India, while all production takes place at the Kakinada facility operated by a team of approximately 45 full-time employees under a management group with combined experience spanning vegetable oil processing, biodiesel production, B2B industrial sales, and finance.
Universal Biofuels firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Universal Biofuels
- Legal name
- Universal Biofuels Private Limited
- Website
- https://universalbiofuelsltd.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Universal Biofuels Private Limited is an Indian manufacturer producing biodiesel, refined glycerin, and edible refined palm oil from an integrated 80-million-gallon-per-year facility in Kakinada, supplying India's government Oil Marketing Companies and industrial customers across mining, paint, pharma, and food sectors as a subsidiary of Aemetis, Inc.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Universal Biofuels industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biofuels and Renewable Chemicals Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Soybean and Other Oilseed Processing (311224), Fats and Oils Refining and Blending (311225)
- SIC
- Fats & Oils (2070), Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Biodiesel (FAME) Production (EUAAAHAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Vegetable Oil Crushing & Refining (Soy, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Corn, Cottonseed) (AFAKAEAA), Commodity Edible Vegetable Oils (Refined/Bleached/Deodorized) (AFAJALAA)
Keywords
Where Universal Biofuels is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hyderabad
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
Universal Biofuels business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Biodiesel sales: Sale of biodiesel produced from non-edible palm stearin and refined palm oil to government Oil Marketing Companies under national policy contracts and to industrial customers in textile and fuel markets.
- Refined glycerin sales: Sale of refined glycerin (98% pure) as a specialty chemical to paint, textile, cosmetic, and medical industries. Produced as byproduct of biodiesel production and refined at the Kakinada plant.
- Natural oils sales: Sale of edible refined palm oil into the Indian food market, primarily to industrial bakers and olien refiners. Produced through degumming, bleaching, and deodorizing of crude palm oil.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Universal Biofuels product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Universal Biofuels manufactures and sells biodiesel, refined glycerin, and natural oils (edible refined palm oil) from an integrated multiproduct production facility in Kakinada, India. Biodiesel is produced from non-edible palm stearin and refined palm oil; refined glycerin (98% pure) is generated as a byproduct and supplied to industrial customers; natural oils are produced through degumming, bleaching, and deodorizing of crude palm oil for the food industry.
Product overview
Universal Biofuels operates an integrated multiproduct manufacturing facility producing three main product lines: Biodiesel (fatty acid methyl ester), Refined Glycerin, and Natural Oils (edible refined palm oil). The facility in Kakinada, India processes non-edible palm stearin and crude palm oil into finished chemical and fuel products sold domestically in India and internationally through Export Oriented Unit status.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Biodiesel
Quantifiable outcome
- Significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to petroleum-based fuels
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Universal Biofuels
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Universal Biofuels technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Universal Biofuels partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Universal Biofuels competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Bunge Limited: Global oilseed processor and biodiesel producer with integrated operations in Asia. Comparable through its palm and soybean oil refining, biodiesel production, and downstream glycerin sales to industrial customers.
- Cargill: Global agribusiness major with palm oil operations in Asia and biodiesel production. Comparable through its integrated oilseed processing, refined oils, and renewable fuels capabilities serving similar end markets.
- Reliance Industries (Renewables/Biofuels division): Indian conglomerate with announced investments in renewable fuels and biofuels. Comparable as it expands into biodiesel and renewable chemicals, representing a competitive threat in Indian OMC tenders.
- Wilmar International: Asia's largest palm oil processor with integrated crushing, refining, and oleochemical operations. Comparable to Universal Biofuels' palm oil refining, biodiesel feedstocks, and glycerin byproduct economics.
Direct peers
- Adani Wilmar: Major Indian edible oil and biodiesel producer with port-linked infrastructure and scale comparable to Universal Biofuels' Kakinada operations. Direct competitor in palm oil refining and renewable fuels.
- India Glycols Limited: Indian manufacturer of industrial chemicals including glycerin, fatty alcohols, and bio-based products. Comparable to Universal Biofuels' refined glycerin business with similar end-market exposure in pharma and personal care.
- Patanjali Foods (formerly Ruchi Soya): One of India's largest edible oil processors (soybean, palm, sunflower) with refining capacity across multiple plants. Comparable to Universal Biofuels' palm oil refining and edible oil business; also has biodiesel exposure.
Others
- Desmet Ballestra: Global supplier of plants and equipment for oils, fats, and biodiesel processing. Adjacent peer as a technology and infrastructure provider to the same industry segment Universal Biofuels operates in.
Emerging players
- Praj Industries: India-headquartered process engineering company providing biodiesel plant technology and turnkey solutions. Comparable through its biodiesel and ethanol technology offerings relevant to India's biofuel mandate.
Regional players
- Southern Petrochemicals Industries Corporation (SPIC): Indian petrochemical and fertilizer company with diversification into specialty chemicals. Regional comparable in Indian industrial chemicals space, with overlapping exposure to renewable/specialty chemical end markets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Universal Biofuels social profiles
Digital presenceUniversal Biofuels compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Universal Biofuels financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Universal Biofuels leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Universal Biofuels funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Universal Biofuels M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Universal Biofuels
What does Universal Biofuels do?
Universal Biofuels manufactures and sells biodiesel, refined glycerin, and natural oils (edible refined palm oil) from an integrated multiproduct production facility in Kakinada, India. Biodiesel is produced from non-edible palm stearin and refined palm oil; refined glycerin (98% pure) is generated as a byproduct and supplied to industrial customers; natural oils are produced through degumming, bleaching, and deodorizing of crude palm oil for the food industry.
Is Universal Biofuels a public or private company?
Universal Biofuels is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Universal Biofuels founded?
Universal Biofuels was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Universal Biofuels based?
Universal Biofuels is headquartered in Hyderabad, India, in the Asia region.
How does Universal Biofuels make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Biodiesel sales are the primary driver. The others are refined glycerin sales and natural oils sales.
Who are Universal Biofuels's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Bunge Limited, Cargill, Reliance Industries (Renewables/Biofuels division) and Wilmar International. Direct peers are Adani Wilmar, India Glycols Limited and Patanjali Foods (formerly Ruchi Soya). Desmet Ballestra is listed as an others. Praj Industries is listed as an emerging player. Southern Petrochemicals Industries Corporation (SPIC) is listed as a regional player.
Does Universal Biofuels have an API?
No public API is recorded for Universal Biofuels.
What industry is Universal Biofuels in?
Universal Biofuels's product category is Biofuels and Renewable Chemicals Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAAAHAC, Biodiesel (FAME) Production, with a secondary code of AFAKAEAA, Vegetable Oil Crushing & Refining (Soy, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Corn, Cottonseed). Its NAICS code is 311224 and its SIC code is 2070.