Biodiesel exports from Germany rose nearly 16% in the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2023, as reported by the Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants (UFOP).
In contrast, imports surged by around 24%, leading to an export surplus of 0.76 million tonnes, up from 0.72 million tonnes last year. This growth in exports is seen as a vital way to relieve pressure on the rapeseed oil and biodiesel markets. UFOP noted, “These exports help keep oil mills operating at full capacity and ensure a steady supply of rapeseed meal as a protein source.”
However, the agency also pointed out that the surplus in exports could have contributed to decarbonizing Germany’s transport sector.
According to data from the German Federal Statistical Office, Germany exported approximately 1.7 million tonnes of biodiesel in the first half of 2024, while imports totaled 906,719 tonnes.
The Netherlands remained Germany’s leading trading partner, representing 47% of total exports and 52% of imports. This marks the third consecutive year of increasing imports from the Netherlands.
Research by Agrarmarkt Informations-Gesellschaft indicated a rise in imports from Malaysia and Belgium, although imports from Poland, Finland, and Austria fell compared to the previous year.
The primary importers of German biodiesel included EU countries, with the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Austria, and France at the forefront.
Despite a significant drop of around 46% in U.S. imports, which totaled just under 131,000 tonnes in the first half of 2024, the USA remained the most significant non-EU trading partner for German biodiesel.
