New data released by the U.K. government shows the country increased its overall consumption of liquid biofuels during the second quarter of 2018. Consumption of ethanol, however, was down slightly.

Data released by the U.K. Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on Sept. 27 shows the country’s transportation sector consumed 460 million liters (121.52 million gallons) of liquid biofuels during the second quarter of this year, up 14 percent when compared to the 404 million liters consumed during the same period of last year.

The consumption of ethanol fell by 0.5 percent, from 193 million liters during the second quarter of 2017 to 192 million liters during the same quarter of this year. Biodiesel consumption, however, increased by 27 percent, from 211 million liters during the second quarter of last year to 268 million liters during the second quarter of 2018.

During the second quarter of this year, biodiesel accounted for 58 percent of U.K. biofuels consumption, while ethanol accounted for 42 percent.

Ethanol accounted for 4.5 percent of U.K. gasoline during the second quarter, while biodiesel accounted for 3.4 percent of U.K. diesel. On a combined basis, the two biofuels accounted for 3.8 percent of U.K. transportation fuel during the quarter, up 0.4 percent when compared to the same period of last year.

The U.K. currently allows ethanol blends of up to 5 percent. The U.K. government is considering allowing the introduction of E10. Growth Energy, the U.S. Grains Council and Renewable Fuels Association are among the groups that advocated for the introduction of E10 in the U.K. during a public comment period that was open through mid-September.