Germany: Biodiesel share increased despite declining diesel consumption

The use of biodiesel and bioethanol significantly raised in the first half of 2018 despite lower consumption of road traffic diesel and petrol in Germany.

May was the month of 2018 with the highest demand for biodiesel with around 205,000 tonnes. The total consumption of biodiesel in Germany increased by 11% for the first half of 2018 compared to last year. At the same time, it declined 5.2% to around 17.05 million tonnes.

According to information published by the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA), the incorporation rate of bioethanol also saw a rise to around 6.7% for the same period.

The surge in the incorporation rates of bioethanol and biodiesel could be due to the availability of less costly feedstocks for the production of these two biofuels, according to the Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants e. V. (UFOP).

The UFOP represents the political interests of those involved in the production, processing and marketing of domestic oil and protein plants in national and international bodies.