German biodiesel exports in 2016 increased by 4.8 percent over the previous year, to 1.56 million metric tons (approximately 468 million gallons), according to data from the German Federal Statistics Office and the Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants (UFOP). This tally is slightly higher than export figures originally announced in March, which came in at 1.54 million tons (462 million gallons).

“The Federal Statistical Office of Germany adapts their data continuously,” Dieter Bockey with UFOP told Biodiesel Magazine. “The discrepancy between the two … is caused by these revisions. Final data for the fiscal year 2016 will be published by the Federal Statistical Office in autumn 2017.”

About 87 percent of the 1.56 million tons exported from Germany went to other EU countries. “The Netherlands continued to be the most important recipient of German biodiesel, showing a 44 percent rise from the previous year to 0.6 million tons (approximately 180 million gallons),” UFOP stated in a press release. “Poland, the second most important recipient, even increased its biodiesel imports by 83 percent to 0.23 million tons (roughly 69 million gallons).”

While German biodiesel exports to the Netherlands and Poland were on the rise last year, other EU imports of German biodiesel decreased. “French imports fell most sharply, seeing a drop of 53 percent,” stated UFOP. “Norway, Austria and Sweden also imported more than 40 percent less [in 2016] than in 2015. Trade in German biodiesel with the U.S. was significantly more dynamic, with exports increasing eightfold from the previous year. However, exports were at a comparatively low level of 85,000 tons (25.5 million gallons). Shipments to Switzerland also surged substantially, with volumes up 155 percent at 45,000 tons (13.5 million gallons).”

Despite the increase in German biodiesel exports last year, they still fell short of the record of 1.71 million tons (513 million gallons) set in 2014.