Germany exported 1.7 million tonnes of rapeseed meal, marking a 26% increase compared to the same period the previous year. According to Agrarmarkt Informations-Gesellschaft, this export volume represents the highest in three years, reported Biofuels International.
The majority of German rapeseed meal, approximately 1.5 million tonnes, was shipped to EU member states during the specified period. The Netherlands emerged as the largest importer with 755,000 tonnes, a 24% increase. Denmark followed as the second largest importer, raising its imports by 7% to 184,000 tonnes from Germany.
In 2023, the German biodiesel industry produced approximately 3.7 million tonnes of biodiesel, with 52.3% derived from rapeseed oil. This required around 1.92 million tonnes of rapeseed oil, sourced from approximately 4.8 million tonnes of rapeseed.
Noteworthy increases in imports were also seen in Finland, which doubled its intake from just under 91,000 tonnes to 175,000 tonnes compared to the previous year’s period. Spain and France also recorded higher imports of rapeseed meal from Germany. In contrast, deliveries to Sweden declined by 14% to 88,000 tonnes, according to data from the German Federal Statistical Office.
Outside the European Community, Switzerland remained a significant importer, increasing its imports by nearly 23% to a record 85,000 tonnes.
The Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen e. V. (UFOP) highlighted the substantial production of rapeseed meal in the rapeseed oil-based biodiesel processing chain.
