UK imposes duties on Chinese biodiesel, renewable diesel

The U.K.’s Secretary of State for Business and Trade accepted the Trade Remedies Authority’s final recommendation Nov. 24 to apply a new antidumping duty on imports of biodiesel and renewable diesel from China. 

This investigation was launched June 2024, following an application from the Renewable Transport Fuels Association on behalf of U.K. producers. 

TRA found that Chinese biodiesel has been dumped in the U.K. at unfairly low prices, causing material injury to U.K. producers, including Argent Energy and Olleco. 

Following its analysis of the evidence and responses from interested parties to the statement of essential facts, TRA has confirmed that the application of an antidumping measure is in the U.K.’s economic interest and made a final recommendation to apply duties.

These duties will help ensure fair competition for U.K. producers while maintaining a level playing field in the renewable fuel market, according to TRA. 

The measures recommended by the TRA are ad valorem duties of: 

• 14.79 percent for the Zhuoyue Group and nonsampled cooperating exporters. 

• 54.64 percent for all other exporters.

These duties will apply to imports of biobased diesel, including fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), also known as biodiesel, or paraffinic gasoils obtained from synthesis or hydrotreatment of nonfossil origin—hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO)—in pure form or as included in a blend, excluding sustainable aviation fuel, in pure form or as included in a blend.