German diesel-fuel standard limits use of biodiesel across Europe

While the share of biodiesel in the German diesel market remained stable in the first half of 2026, imported hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), also known as renewable diesel, recorded strong growth.

The volume rose from 68,500 metric tons in the same period of the previous year to 337,100 tons.

According to Germany’s Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA), biodiesel sales, at 1.062 million tons, remained almost at the previous year’s level (1.085 million tons).

In view of the critical supply situation for diesel fuel, the Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Crops (UFOP) is calling for the full utilization of blending potential and the use of biodiesel as a pure fuel.

UFOP noted that the maximum blending limit of 7 percent by volume, as specified in the DIN EN 590 diesel-fuel standard, governs the use of biodiesel not only in Germany but across the EU as a whole.

Consequently, the use of B30 in dedicated fleets for heavy-goods transport and of B100 are key options not only for consolidating biodiesel sales but, in view of the transport sector’s climate-protection obligations, are also a matter of urgency, UFOP stated.

Given the supply bottlenecks in crude oil and diesel caused by the Middle East conflict and Russia’s war against Ukraine, B100 is also becoming increasingly relevant in terms of security of supply.

Germany, in particular, is reliant on diesel imports.

At the same time, electrification in heavy-goods transport is not expected to progress quickly enough in the foreseeable future due to a lack of charging infrastructure and high vehicle-procurement costs.

“That is why the domestic production capacity for biodiesel, which stands at around 4.2 million tons, must be fully utilized, particularly as Germany was already the largest net exporter within the EU in 2025, with 1.1 million tons,” UFOP stated.

According to UFOP, this potential must now be harnessed.