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Europe is becoming an internal market for biodiesel

The Port of Rotterdam has announced that the throughput of biofuels was 15% lower in 2014 than in 2013, representing a decrease of 3.8 million tonnes.

This, the port says, is primarily due to a decrease in imports of biodiesel from Indonesia and Argentina as a result of extra import duties and taxes on dumping.

Declining imports have been compensated by the growth of domestic production. The general impression that the biofuel market has become more of an internal EU market is being mirrored by the trends in throughput in Rotterdam.

The incoming volume of biodiesel dropped from 1.1 million to 700,000 tonnes. Additional import duties and taxes on dumping caused a decrease in imports from Indonesia and Argentina. The most important countries of origin were Spain (60%) and Malaysia. The decline of imports created opportunities for more domestic European production. Also in Rotterdam, biodiesel capacity has been taken in production again.

Exports increased from 1.5 to 1.6 million tonnes, with the most important destinations being the UK (42%) and France (17%).

After a peak in 2008, ethanol handling gradually dropped to 1 million tonnes in 2014. Imports in 2014 came primarily from France and the UK, together accounting for 45%. For several years imports from countries that have been made exempt from import duties, such as Guatemala, Peru, Costa Rica and Pakistan, have been increasing.

Export levels decreased by 100,000 tonnes to 500,000 tonnes, with the UK the most important recipient of exports with a share of 45%. Sweden, the country with the most flexible-fuel cars, follows at nearly 15%.

The handling of ETBE decreased from 0.7 million to 0.5 million tonnes. With a share of 70%, France is the most important destination for ETBE exports. Most imports, more than 55%, also originate there. Brazil is the second highest with a share of nearly 40%.

Bio Port Rotterdam is Europe's largest hub for biofuels and home to the largest renewable industry cluster in the world. The port has designated an 80 hectare site on its latest port expansion Maasvlakte 2 for the bio-based industry.

 

SOURCE: Port of Rotterdam





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