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EU imports of palm oil continue to decline, according to European Commission figures cited by Germany's Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants (UFOP).
A report published on 12 November said the decline stems from the exclusion of palm oil-based biofuel from national quota obligations, alongside a rise in imports of waste oils and fats (used cooking oil) for use in transport fuel production.
According to European Commission import figures, the EU-27 imported nearly 958,000 tonnes of palm oil between 1 July and 2 November 2025, a decline of about 20% compared with the same period a year earlier.
Malaysia remained the leading supplier, shipping 272,000 tonnes and accounting for 28% of total imports, a slight increase in the country's exports compared with the reference period.
Indonesia ranked second with 261,000 tonnes, marking a sharp decline.
The Netherlands retained its position as a major hub for European palm oil trade and a key biofuel production centre, importing 353,000 tonnes of palm oil, an increase of roughly 12% compared with the same period last year.
Italy ranked second among importing countries, bringing in 303,000 tonnes, down 8%.
Greece recorded the steepest decline (-91%), followed by Sweden (-37%) and Denmark (-30%). Germany imported 78,000 tonnes, down 13% year-on-year.
Belgium and Spain both slightly increased their import volumes. According to research by Agricultural Market Information Company (AMI), these two countries, along with the Netherlands, are among the few EU states showing an upward import trend.
UFOP said the continued decline in imports reflects the broader public debate surrounding palm oil.
"In many EU member states, this has already led to the exclusion of palm oil-derived biofuel from quota obligation calculations. Such exemptions should be implemented across the EU by 2030," UFOP said.
It added: "The figures also clearly show a rising demand for imports of waste oils and fats used to produce biodiesel and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), offsetting the decline in palm oil imports. Depending on the waste category, these imports can be double-counted towards national quota obligations."
According to UFOP, this "double counting" has created incentives for fraud and has also generated "fictitious" greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction quotas that are not genuinely eligible under climate mitigation targets for the transport sector.
The association welcomed the planned abolition of double counting, as set out in the draft bill amending the Greenhouse Gas Quota Act.
Source: ofimagazine