Irish biodiesel consumption rose in January and ethanol fell but blending still far from mandated levels

In Ireland, Platts reports that biodiesel consumption soared in January by more than a quarter to 12.85 million liters, outpacing fossil diesel consumption that only grew by little more than 8%. As a result, volumetric blending jumped to 4.88% from 4.16% during the same period last year. Ethanol consumption fell 7%, however, to 4.30 million liters but blending still rose to 5.12% volumetric blending compared to 5.09% in January 2017. The national biofuel blending mandate is much higher, however, at 8.695% on a volumetric basis and has been at that level since January 1, 2017.