German biodiesel output below 60% capacity
Germany's biodiesel industry is currently working at below 60% capacity because of higher taxes on green fuels and reduced blending levels with fossil fuels.
Germany was likely to consume about 2.5 million tonnes of biodiesel in 2009, down from 2.7 million tonnes in 2008 and 3.3 million tonnes in 2007, said Johannes Daum, political director of German biofuels industry association VDB.
Biodiesel sales have also suffered because of falling crude oil prices which have dropped €76 per barrel from record highs last July, eroding the green fuel's price attraction.
‘We are certainly in a crisis and the government's decision to raise taxes and reduce blending levels will create more hardship,’ Daum said.
A series of biodiesel plants closed last year as Germany's once-booming biodiesel industry, Europe's largest, suffered a drop in sales.
Germany's biodiesel industry has capacity to produce about 4.8 million tonnes annually, Daum said.
Germany was likely to consume about 2.5 million tonnes of biodiesel in 2009, down from 2.7 million tonnes in 2008 and 3.3 million tonnes in 2007, said Johannes Daum, political director of German biofuels industry association VDB.
Biodiesel sales have also suffered because of falling crude oil prices which have dropped €76 per barrel from record highs last July, eroding the green fuel's price attraction.
‘We are certainly in a crisis and the government's decision to raise taxes and reduce blending levels will create more hardship,’ Daum said.
A series of biodiesel plants closed last year as Germany's once-booming biodiesel industry, Europe's largest, suffered a drop in sales.
Germany's biodiesel industry has capacity to produce about 4.8 million tonnes annually, Daum said.
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