German biodiesel exports rose substantially in Q1 2019

German biodiesel exports increased sharply in the first quarter of 2019, with exports to Great Britain seeing the biggest growth.

In the first three months of 2019, German exports of biodiesel surged around 33 percent to 581,248 metric tons (approximately 175 million gallons) year-on-year. Around 87 percent of these exports were shipped to EU-28 countries. This was up just over 37 percent from the previous year.

The top purchaser of German biodiesel was the Netherlands, with imports soaring 47 percent to 230,465 tons (69 million gallons). However, Great Britain recorded the biggest increase, purchasing 40,000 tons (12 million gallons) of biodiesel from Germany, which was more than five times as much as in same period a year earlier.

Belgium, the U.S. and Austria also recorded large quantities and strong growths. Belgium purchased a total of 88,350 tons (26.5 million gallons), which means that the country almost doubled its imports year-on-year. On the other hand, exports to the U.S., at 53,696 tons (16 million gallons), were up 26 percent from the reference period. Austria followed with total imports of 43,450 tons (13 million gallons) in the period under consideration. This was also up almost 26 percent year-on-year.

According to Agrarmarkt Informations-Gesellschaft (mbH) Sweden and the Czech Republic also imported larger amounts of German biodiesel compared to the same period a year earlier. In contrast, shipments to Switzerland and, first and foremost, France declined.

The Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen (UFOP) has underlined the importance the export markets have for German biodiesel producers as the buyers of feedstock from rapeseed growers. These exports have a stabilizing effect on prices and consequently safeguard rapeseed cultivation and marketing, UFOP has pointed out. Demand was not least driven by national biofuel mandates to meet renewable energy targets in the transport sector. The mandate specifies a binding share of renewable energy of at least 10 percent in 2020 and 14 percent in 2030, UFOP has emphasized.