Imports of biodiesel from China fell to 9,835 metric tons (mt) in July, a substantial decrease from 109,457 mt in June, marking the lowest level since April 2021, according to recent Eurostat data.
Xavier Noyon, Secretary General of the European Biodiesel Board (EBB), commented on the latest import figures, stating, “Recent import data from Eurostat suggests that the long-anticipated provisional duties on biodiesel imports from China are working, bringing much-needed relief to the EU industry.” He emphasized that while these measures are helping to rebalance the market, the impacts of previous import levels have been severe, and recovery may take time.
Noyon also expressed concern over potential loopholes that could allow some operators to evade the newly implemented anti-dumping duties. He pointed out issues related to inward processing and mass balancing practices between different storage facilities, which may become more appealing with the duties in place.
The EBB is actively engaging with legislators to address these challenges and has alerted both EU and national authorities to the complexities involved, which encompass trade, customs, and sustainability regulations under the Renewable Energy Directive (RED).
Furthermore, Noyon reiterated the EBB's longstanding warnings about the risks of mislabeled feedstock within the Chinese biodiesel production chain. The organization remains committed to advocating for the interests of the biodiesel industry and aims to establish a fair trading environment. In addition to addressing customs issues, the EBB plans to propose reforms to enhance sustainability verification processes within the RED framework.
