Biofuel production in the European Union has doubled since 2008, reaching 649.8 petajoules in 2019. As the largest car market on the continent, Germany is also the leading producer of biofuels in the EU, with an output of 143.4 petajoules that same year. Common feedstocks include raw vegetable oils such as palm, corn, and rapeseed, as well as used cooking oils and animal fats. Finland-based Neste is the EU’s largest biodiesel producer. As of 2019, it has an installed capacity of 1.38 million tons per year.
In order to meet consumer demand, many European countries are reliant on imports. The import value of biodiesel in Europe climbed to a peak of over 14 billion U.S. dollars in 2019. This figure includes inter-European imports.
An estimated 17.8 million metric tons of oil equivalent biofuel are consumed in the EU each year. Unlike bioethanol and biogas consumption, which has stagnated in recent years, biodiesel has seen a more pronounced market growth. France's biodiesel consumption has climbed to 2.8 million metric tons of oil equivalent, making it the leading consumer of biofuels on the continent.
However, not all vehicle owners have been as quick in welcoming biodiesel. Consumption of biodiesel in Portugal has declined since 2010.
