Imports of biodiesel from China plummeted to 9,835 metric tons in July, a significant decline from 109,457 metric tons in June. This marks the lowest level since April 2021, according to the latest data from Eurostat.
Xavier Noyon, secretary general of the European Biodiesel Board (EBB), remarked, “The recent import figures suggest that the long-anticipated provisional duties on biodiesel imports from China are starting to take effect, providing much-needed relief to the EU industry. While this will help restore balance, the impact has been severe, and the recovery process may be lengthy.”
He also raised concerns about potential loopholes that could allow operators to bypass anti-dumping duties and other tariffs. “We are particularly worried about practices involving inward processing and mass balancing (the swapping of points of sale) between biodiesel storage tanks classified as T1 and T2. These methods have existed before but may become more appealing due to the imposition of anti-dumping duties.”
The EBB is actively engaging with legislators to present compelling evidence and has alerted both EU and national authorities about these issues, emphasizing the complexity surrounding trade, customs, and sustainability regulations.
Noyon reiterated the EBB’s ongoing concerns regarding the risk of mislabeled feedstock in the Chinese biodiesel production chain. “We remain committed to protecting the interests of the biodiesel industry and re-establishing a fair trading environment. Alongside addressing customs issues, we will propose concrete reforms to improve sustainability verification within the Renewable Energy Directive (RED).”
