In the first half of November 2025, the global biodiesel market continued to soften, as the UCO and UCOME benchmarks in Asia, Europe, and the U.S. extended their current bearish trend. Prices eased modestly on steady supply, balanced demand and stable operations. The greatest downward impetus was seen in Europe, as imports of waste-based feedstock remained plentiful while changes in German law widened the range of eligible materials. Some signals of tightening emerged from sharper bidding for waste oils but demand indicators such as sales of glycerine and distillate remained flat. Overall, the market held a stable tone with gradual, sentiment-driven losses.
The global biodiesel market continues to find itself in a soft tone in the week ending 14 November 2025, as key price benchmarks across Asia, Europe and North America moved lower. While price movement was limited on a weekly basis, modest price changes only cemented the underlying trend of gradual softening which has defined the market for the better part of a few months. Participants in the market noted that operating conditions were, for the most part, stable, with supply and demand balanced and no significant operational issues, still, there was directional pressure, attributed largely to a continued high flow of feedstock.
In China, the FOB Qingdao assessed price for used-cooking-oil-based biodiesel (UCO) remained mostly unchanged, though it declined slightly. While the weekly change was small, it stayed firmly penalized by the ongoing downward trajectory that has characterized the price environment in recent weeks. Biodiesel market fundamentals remained stable; inputs were firm while supply and demand were well matched. Biodiesel traders suggested that softness in the market felt more consistent with motivation and a creeping structural change and less about a near surprise or imbalance. In all, the week added to a developed bearish price trend of biodiesel, supported by steady and flat fundamentals.
Biodiesel price in Europe also followed a similar narrative, though sentiment was considerably more bearish. UCOME (Used Cooking Oil Methyl Ester) biodiesel del to Hamburg weakened again on the week and extended its multi-week downtrend. Although the assessment was still considered moderate in decline, it was impactful contextually with respect to fluid regulatory compliance and supply chain behaviour. Availability of waste derived feedstocks from used cooking oils and Category 1/2 animal fats from East Europe, China, and the Black Sea supported the easier tone.
Counter-vesicles were observed too, however rising competition for waste oils indicated further pockets of local feedstock tightness. And whilst steady sales of co-products such as glycerine and fatty-acid distillates alongside an otherwise steady inflow of renewable diesel into Rotterdam indicated that biodiesel demand was holding firm, with blending mandates flat and availability of feedstock broadly strong, biodiesel traders indicated that further softening might be possible in blend stocks down the line unless more intense supply constraints arise.
Across the Atlantic, the UCO biodiesel market based out of UCO on a basis of CFR Houston also eased off slightly. Like other regions, the decrease was limited but showed continuity to the broader multi-week bearish trend. Biodiesel trading in the United States was quiet and uneventful with smooth logistics and minimal adjustments across the supply chain.
Overall, the global biodiesel complex concluded the week with a common directional signal: minor declines, stable fundamentals, and a continued message of lower valuations that continued to be improved from sentiment, rather than market disruption in the short term.
