Source: Ukragroconsult (Ukraine)
According to the Federal Statistical Office, Germany’s biodiesel exports reached a new record high of 3.2 million tons in 2024, marking the third consecutive year of growth.
The Netherlands continues to dominate the global biofuel market and remains Germany’s key trading partner. Year-on-year, shipments to the Netherlands increased by 20%, surpassing 1.4 million tons. Meanwhile, exports to Belgium surged by 80%, reaching 638,300 tons, which positioned Belgium as the second largest buyer of German biodiesel. Conversely, exports to the United States decreased by 40%, totaling 271.9 thousand tons.
Germany imported 1.6 million tons of biodiesel, slightly down by around 3% from 2023. The majority of imports came from the Netherlands, Belgium, Malaysia, and Austria. Notably, imports from Belgium saw a remarkable rise of 51%, increasing by approximately 151,000 tons to 447,000 tons. Additionally, shipments from Malaysia grew by nearly 6%. There were also allegations of fraudulent imports from China, which predominantly entered Germany through Rotterdam, although China only directly supplied 4,000 tons to Germany in 2024.
The German Oilseeds and Grains Promotion Association (UFOP) attributes the shift in commodity flows to Germany’s greenhouse gas emission quota regulations and the resulting competition for efficiency. The association notes that, with mounting commitments to lower greenhouse gas outputs and a continuing decline in diesel consumption, HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) derived from used cooking oil has emerged as the sole alternative in the diesel sector.