EU demand for palm oil continues to decline

Imports of palm oil into key EU member states continued to decline from July 1 to Oct. 18, according to European Commission data.

This development is primarily driven by the exclusion of palm oil-based biofuels from national-quota obligations.

At around 302,000 metric tons, the Netherlands remained the most important hub in the European palm-oil trade and a major location for biofuel production.

Italy once again takes second place with just under 196,000 tons but records a noticeable decline of 29 percent.

Spain keeps its import volume nearly constant at just over 115,000 tons.

During the same period, Germany reduced imports to around 70,600 tons of palm oil and thus imported 5 percent less than in the same period a year earlier.

Imports to Belgium decreased significantly by 40 percent, or 22,800 tons.

Denmark also saw a sharp decline of 34 percent to 11,560 tons.

By contrast, individual countries increased their palm oil imports.

Greece increased its imports significantly to 33,000 tons.

France and Sweden also imported significantly more palm oil.