Imports of biodiesel from China fell to 9,835 metric tons in July, down from 109,457 metric tons in June. This marks the lowest level since April 2021, according to the latest Eurostat data, reported Biofuels International.
As per media report, Xavier Noyon, secretary general of the European Biodiesel Board (EBB), commented, “Recent import data from Eurostat indicates that the long-expected provisional duties on biodiesel imports from China are effective, providing much-needed relief to the EU industry. While this will help rebalance the situation, the effects have been severe, and the path to recovery may be lengthy.
“However, in recent months, we have identified several loopholes that could enable operators to bypass anti-dumping duties and other tariffs. We are particularly concerned about the use of inward processing and mass balancing (swapping points of sale) between biodiesel storage tanks in T1 and T2. These practices have existed but will likely become more appealing with the anti-dumping duties in place.
“The EBB is engaging with legislators to connect with the right stakeholders and provide solid evidence. We have alerted authorities at both the EU and national levels, but the issue is complex, involving trade, customs, and RED sustainability regulations.
“Additionally, we must emphasize that the EBB has been warning for months about the risk of mislabeling feedstock in the Chinese biodiesel production chain. We are committed to defending the interests of the biodiesel industry and restoring a fair trading environment. Alongside addressing these customs issues, we will also propose concrete reforms to improve the verification of sustainability within the RED framework.”
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