Group Avril closes half of its biodiesel facilities due to COVID-19

In France, Biofuels International reports that Groupe Avril has shut three of its six biodiesel production facilities on the back of 60% less diesel consumption over the past few weeks. Travel bans and lockdowns to fight COVID-19 have hit global and national fuel markets alike, and with less diesel consumption, biodiesel blending demand has fallen in turn. Rapeseed oil prices have not fallen at the same pace as fossil diesel, making biodiesel production and blending uncompetitive.