# Biodiesel (FAME): Movement

Which countries ship biodiesel, and why India barely trades

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/biodiesel/movement/

What this tab covers How it moves between countries: share of output traded, physical form and transport, the largest exporters and importers, main routes, India's trade, and handling rules in transit.

#### Trade in 2024 UN Comtrade, HS 382600
 World exports $21.4 bn 60 reporting exporters · about 15.4 m t Largest exporter Netherlands 26.8% of world exports Largest importer Netherlands 24.8% of world imports India imports $1,474
exports $154 #87 importer · #57 exporter

#### Where it is exported from and imported to, 2024

Chart: World map of the largest trade flows
 Exporter (size = share of world exports) Importer (share of world imports) Shipping chokepoint UN Comtrade 2024, HS 382600: shares of reported world exports and imports by value. Country-to-country route lines are not available for this commodity yet. Hover a circle for values.

#### HS 382600: largest exporters

| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Netherlands** | 26.8% | $5.74 bn | 5.02 m |
| **Germany** | 18.6% | $3.99 bn | 3.22 m |
| **Belgium** | 9.9% | $2.13 bn | – |
| **Spain** | 8.7% | $1.87 bn | 1.56 m |
| **China** | 5.4% | $1.16 bn | 1.11 m |
| **United States** | 3.7% | $798.4 m | 585k |
| **Malaysia** | 3.3% | $701.4 m | 688k |
| **Canada** | 2.7% | $572.1 m | 432k |

#### HS 382600: largest importers

| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Netherlands** | 24.8% | $5.20 bn | 4.15 m |
| **France** | 11.7% | $2.45 bn | 1.97 m |
| **Germany** | 10.4% | $2.17 bn | 1.61 m |
| **Belgium** | 9.4% | $1.96 bn | – |
| **United States** | 9.3% | $1.95 bn | – |
| **United Kingdom** | 4.4% | $921.2 m | – |
| **Italy** | 4.1% | $863.1 m | – |
| **Canada** | 3.9% | $817.0 m | 582k |

 UN Comtrade 2024, reported by each country (exports by exporters, imports by importers), all partners. Some countries (for example Russia and Iran) do not report, so their shares are missing. HS codes can be broader than the tile: check the code before reading a share as the whole market.

#### How it moves

| Measure | Figure |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Share traded** | about 30% (derived: 15.4 Mt of HS 382600 exports in UN Comtrade 2024 against about 47 Mt output; includes some HVO and intra-EU trade) |  |  |
| **How it moves** | Liquid in chemical and product tankers, barges on the Rhine, rail and road tankers. Needs heated tanks in winter for palm and tallow esters. |  |  |
| **Routes and chokepoints** | Mostly intra-European via ARA; Argentina and Malaysia to Europe; China to Europe (falling after duties); Singapore and ARA bunker markets. |  |  |
| **India** | India's biodiesel trade is negligible in Comtrade 2024; USDA forecasts exports of 110 million litres in 2026, up from 76 million litres in 2025, and negligible imports. |  |  |
| **Handling in transit** | Pure FAME is usually not regulated as dangerous goods (flash point above 100°C); blends with diesel ship as UN1202 (indicative). MARPOL Annex II applies to bulk FAME as a noxious liquid (indicative). |  |  |

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/biodiesel/index.md)
- [Energy overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/biodiesel/energy/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/biodiesel/correlation/index.md)
- [Efficiency](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/biodiesel/efficiency/index.md)
- [Techniques](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/biodiesel/techniques/index.md)
- [Resources and labour](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/biodiesel/resources/index.md)
- [Impact on the biosphere](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/biodiesel/biosphere/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/biodiesel/overview/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/biodiesel/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/biodiesel/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/biodiesel/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/biodiesel/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/biodiesel/trading/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/biodiesel/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/biodiesel/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/biodiesel/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/biodiesel/links/index.md)