Leaked data on European palm oil use shows 45% goes towards biofuels

In Belgium, in 2014, 45% of all the palm oil used in Europe ended up in the tanks of cars and trucks, data from EU vegetable oil industry association Fediol and obtained by green group Transport & Environment has revealed. Europe’s use of palm oil in diesel increased six fold between 2010 and 2014. This explosion has fueled all of the 34% growth in biodiesel consumption in Europe in that period. Europe does not produce palm oil because palm trees need a tropical climate to grow in.

Palm oil used for non-energy purposes (for example, food, animal feed, cosmetics and soap) actually declined by one-third between 2010 and 2014. In 2014, 60% of Europe’s total palm oil consumption went into transport, electricity generation and heating.