Biodiesel exports reach record high

Biodiesel exports from Germany rose for the third consecutive year in 2024, exceeding imports by approximately 1.61 million tonnes.
According to information published by the German Federal Statistical Office, they hit a new record of around 3.2 million tonnes. The Netherlands, where Rotterdam serves as the most important hub for world trade in biofuels, remained by far Germany's key trading partner for biodiesel, with shipments increasing 20% year-on-year to just over 1.4 million tonnes.

Exports to Belgium increased 80% to 638,300 tonnes, making Belgium the second largest recipient of German biodiesel.
By contrast, exports to the US declined 40% to 271,900 tonnes. According to research by Agrarmarkt Informations-Gesellschaft, Germany imported 1.6 million tonnes of biodiesel, a decrease of around 3% compared to 2023.
The largest volumes came from the Netherlands, Belgium, Malaysia and Austria. Notably, imports from Belgium rose 51% (approximately 151,000 tonnes) to 447,400 tonnes. Imports from Malaysia increased just under 6%.
Most of the allegedly fraudulent imports from China obviously also came via Rotterdam in 2024, as data from the German Federal Statistical Office indicate that China itself delivered only 4,000 tonnes directly to Germany.
According to the Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen (UFOP), the German GHG quota policy, the associated competition for GHG efficiency and, in particular, the double counting of biodiesel based on certain waste oils are the main factors driving this trend, which is characterised by a displacement or shift of commodity flows.