Colombia’s biodiesel production is projected to increase 4.5% in 2026 to 765 million litres, supported by record crude palm oil (CPO) production in the previous year, according to a report by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Oil & Fats International reported.
The country’s 10% biodiesel blending mandate, or B10, remained unchanged, while Colombia continued to be fully self-sufficient in biodiesel feedstock. The USDA’s September 24 Colombia: Biofuels Annual report said no biodiesel feedstock imports or exports were expected.
Colombia’s palm oil planted area has expanded steadily in recent years, reaching about 641,000 hectares in 2025, up 5% from 2024. The growing share of newer plantations entering maturity is expected to continue supporting higher production.
The increase in palm oil availability was backed by record CPO output. The National Federation of Oil Palm Growers (Fedepalma) reported historic CPO production of 1.93 million tonnes in 2025, up 12% from the previous year. It expects national production to cross 2 million tonnes for the first time in 2026.
Biodiesel remained the second-largest domestic user of CPO after food and edible oils. CPO consumption by the biodiesel sector was estimated at 642,000 tonnes in 2025 and is projected at about 670,000 tonnes in 2026.
Colombia has 12 operational biodiesel facilities, with six plants accounting for more than 90% of national production. According to the USDA, only one facility produces meaningful volumes of biodiesel from used cooking oil (UCO).
Biodiesel consumption in 2026 was estimated at 763 million litres, 4.5% higher than the revised 730 million litres recorded in 2025.
“Colombian biodiesel consumption remains almost entirely feedstock-anchored,” the USDA said, adding that with no imports or exports, consumption cannot exceed the supply available from domestic palm oil, including small volumes of UCO.
Biodiesel ending stocks were forecast at 29 million litres in 2026, compared with 27 million litres in 2025, according to the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) report.
SAF targets
On advanced fuels, Colombia’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Roadmap, published in January 2025, set targets of 100 million gallons (378.54 million litres) of SAF by 2035 and 450 million gallons (1.7 billion litres) by 2050.
State-owned oil company Ecopetrol has conducted SAF test production and is targeting sustained output by 2028, subject to the establishment of a national regulatory framework.
Ecopetrol also introduced a marine fuel blend in August 2025, creating an additional, albeit small, outlet for biodiesel demand, the USDA said.
Colombia currently has no commercial renewable diesel production, according to the report.
