UK bioethanol imports rebound after COVID and Brexit rules hit supplies

Bioethanol imports from the EU increased in February this year, latest figures reveal.
However, levels were below from a year ago due to the COVID-19 pandemic while imports were hit in January as new Brexit import rules came into force and led to delays at the border crossings.
A total of 11,000 tonnes of bioethanol arrived from EU member states in February an increase from 7,000 tonnes in January.
However, this was still 65% lower than 12 months ago, the latest UK customs figures outlined.
The country’s second lockdown which came into force just after Christmas badly hit demand for petrol and the need to blend it with bioethanol and biodiesel.
The country’s main EU biofuel supplier was the Hollands which transported 5,000 tonnes while France supplied around 4,000 tonnes.
Imports from non-EU states came in at 11,000 tonnes - an increase up from 3,000 tonnes the month before. These included about 3,000 tonnes from Pakistan and 8,000 tonnes from the US.
A total of 22,500 tonnes of UK bioethanol exports went to EU states – a dramatic increase from 3,000 tonnes in January.
The main EU countries they were supplied to included 5,000 tonnes to Belgium, 2,500 tonnes to Denmark and 14,000 tonnes to the Netherlands.