Suche
Mein Konto
Biodiesel scandal: China imports endanger climate goals!
The VDB calls for stricter controls on HVO100 biodiesel from China and welcomes provisional anti-dumping duties from the EU.
Biodiesel scandal: China imports endanger climate goals!
The Association of the German Biofuel Industry (VDB) is urgently calling for stricter controls for HVO100 biodiesel imported from China. Managing director Elmar Baumann said that there could possibly be dubious transactions behind the imports. The fuel HVO100 is considered to be climate-friendly, but is increasingly being criticized, particularly by German Environmental Aid and the VDB. These question the actual benefits of HVO100 for the environment and climate and Baumann has concerns about the origin of the inexpensive imports from China, which should actually consist of used vegetable oils and fats.
In a further step, the European Commission has imposed provisional anti-dumping duties on imports of advanced biodiesel from China, a measure that is fundamentally welcomed by the VDB. These tariffs, which range between 13 and 36 percent, are intended to combat the unfair trading practices of Chinese producers, from which German and European industry has been suffering since the beginning of 2023. However, Baumann calls for tariffs to be set at a higher lower limit to compensate for the unfair competitive advantage.
Reactions to the customs measures
The provisional tariffs will be imposed from August 16 until the final measures are determined. Despite these steps, Baumann warns that the EU Commission plans to exempt Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), which is used as a sustainable fuel in aviation, from tariffs. He fears this approach could create a dangerous loophole that would undermine the effectiveness of the tariffs. He also demands that Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) also be included in the measures.
Baumann highlights that dumping is just one of many unfair trade practices facing the industry. German authorities have already found evidence that biodiesel deliveries from China are being falsely declared as “advanced”. These incorrectly certified imports have led to significant market distortions in the German and European biofuel markets and subsequently pose a serious threat to investments in climate protection measures in road transport.
In summary, it should be noted that the VDB is closely following current developments and continues to advocate for stricter regulation and controls to ensure the integrity of the market and the sustainable direction of the biofuel industry. Further information can be found on the website South German newspaper as well as on the platform of VDB.