德国上半年生物柴油进出口同步增长Germany's biodiesel imports and exports both grew in the first half of the year

The latest data from the Federal Statistical Office of Germany shows that both imports and exports of biodiesel in Germany have achieved year-on-year growth so far this year. From January to June, Germany's biodiesel exports reached 1.4 million tons, up 3.4% year-on-year, while imports were 851,200 tons, up 3.5% year-on-year. The slight simultaneous increase in imports and exports reflects that Germany's hub position in EU biodiesel trade remains solid.

In terms of import sources, relying on the ports of Rotterdam and Amsterdam, the Netherlands remains Germany's main biodiesel trading partner and overseas import hub. According to the German Agricultural Market Information Company, a large portion of Germany’s imported products also come from Malaysia and Belgium. Notably, Malaysia's shipments to the EU fell by 30.2% in the first half of the year, while Belgium's deliveries to the EU increased by 69.6%, reflecting changes in the overall EU supply pattern and indirectly affecting adjustments in Germany’s import sources.

From the perspective of export destinations, EU member states remain the main market for German biodiesel, particularly the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, and Austria. Among them, Dutch biodiesel imports increased by 22.8% year-on-year, driven by both re-exports and local consumption demand.

The German Oilseed Association (UFOP) emphasized that exports of biodiesel to markets around the EU will continue to support rapeseed oil prices, thereby securing the income of rapeseed growers. Price stability helps mitigate the impact of poor harvests in some regions. The association expects that, with the implementation of the revised EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) by EU member states in 2026 and 2027, which sets higher biofuel quotas, rapeseed oil prices will remain strong.

Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) is becoming another growth curve. The association pointed out that in the first half of the year, Germany's HVO imports reached at least 325,000 tons, not included in the Federal Statistical Office of Germany's data, further confirming that the demand for biofuels has driven strong demand for rapeseed. Germany's HVO consumption is expected to rise sharply by 2026, having reached 205,000 tons by May, a significant year-on-year increase.

The association attributes the surge in HVO consumption to multiple regulatory policy changes: Germany's greenhouse gas reduction quota is increasing from 10.6% in 2025 to 12% in 2026; from January 1, 2026, Germany will cancel part of the double counting for waste-based biofuels; and the new Federal Emission Control Act passed by the German Bundestag prohibits companies from using surplus compliance from previous years to meet current obligations. The association emphasizes that the statutory 7% biodiesel blending cap in diesel standards is the main driver pushing suppliers toward HVO.

In terms of sales, data recently released by the association show that since the beginning of this year, Germany's biodiesel sales have reached 1.062 million tons, remaining basically flat compared with the same period last year. According to a recent report by Argus Media, since mid-August, HVO pure fuel has been traded across Germany for the first time at prices lower than B7 diesel, and traders expect the annual sales of HVO pure fuel to double compared to 2025. The association also believes that major agricultural countries such as the United States, Canada, and Brazil use national biofuel policies as an active tool to support agricultural prices and incomes, and this strategy will continue to influence the global market.

[Source: China Petroleum News]

[Editor: Xiao Neng]