Germany recorded a 12% increase in biodiesel consumption in 2025, with total use reaching 2.2 million tonnes, according to industry data. February saw the highest monthly consumption, touching nearly 215,000 tonnes.
During the year, the use of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) in fuel blends dropped by 17%. Refiners shifted towards biodiesel as a more affordable option to meet environmental targets within standard B7 fuel blends, the German Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants (UFOP) said.
Even as HVO use in blends declined, sales of HVO100 rose to a record 132,700 tonnes, though it remains costlier than regular biodiesel. In contrast, sales of pure B100 biodiesel fell to their lowest level, UkrAgroConsult reported.
Looking ahead to 2026, demand for biodiesel is expected to grow further. This is linked to an increase in the greenhouse gas reduction target from 10.6% to 12.1% and changes in rules related to emission accounting.
UFOP experts have raised concerns over delays in the release of official data on biofuel and fossil fuel consumption by the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA). They say this delay makes it difficult for businesses to assess the market and plan purchases under changing environmental rules. Updated data is expected to influence prices of rapeseed and other crops used in biofuel production.
At the same time, higher global oil prices, driven by the conflict involving Iran, are supporting demand for biofuels. However, the increase has not been sharp. Rapeseed futures for August delivery on the Paris exchange have risen by 8.2% during the conflict, reaching €509.75 per tonne, or about $602.9 per tonne.
