In the first nine months of the previous year, the Netherlands emerged as the top biodiesel exporter in the European Union (EU), according to Eurostat data reported by Germany’s Union for the Promotion of Plants and Protein (UFOP). Despite a 9% drop compared to the previous year, the Netherlands exported a total of 3.1 million tonnes of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME), maintaining its position as the EU’s leading exporter. Belgium followed as the second-largest exporter, with 1.8 million tonnes, experiencing a 5% decrease.
Germany, with exports totaling 1.6 million tonnes within the EU, secured the third position. Notably, Germany exported approximately 9% more biodiesel (FAME) to other EU member states during this period, with the Netherlands being the primary market, importing 742,000 tonnes.
The UFOP emphasized the increasing importance of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) volumes, calling for their inclusion in official statistics. The organization noted the rising trend of HVO producers in the EU and globally. While official statistics for HVO are currently unavailable, the UFOP cited Germany’s 2022 HVO imports, totalising 385,000 tonnes from waste oils and 90,000 tonnes from palm oil, contributing to greenhouse gas reduction quotas. The percentage eligible for double counting remained undisclosed.