U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Vehicle Technologies Office

Fact #700: November 7, 2011
Biodiesel Consumption is on the Rise for 2011

The U.S. Energy Information Administration began tracking biodiesel consumption in 2001. For the first few years biodiesel consumption remained relatively low – well under one thousand barrels per year. Beginning with 2005 the consumption of biodiesel began to increase dramatically and peaked at a high of 8.5 million barrels per year in 2007. The consumption of biodiesel slowed in 2010 due to U.S. economic conditions and the discontinuation of a Federal biodiesel producer tax credit. The credit, which expired in December 2009, was reinstated in December 2010. With the recovering economy and the tax credit returned, biodiesel consumption has rallied, exceeding 2010 levels in just the first six months of 2011.

Biodiesel Consumption, 2001-2011*Graph showing the biodiesel consumption from 2001 to 2011 in million barrels per year. Biodiesel consumption in the first 6 months of 2011 has exceeded the 2010 consumption. For more detailed information, see supporting information below.

* 2011 figure is for the first 6 months.

Supporting Information

Biodiesel Consumption 2001-2011*
Year Biodiesel Consumption
(Million Barrels)
2001 0.243
2002 0.385
2003 0.322
2004 0.640
2005 2.163
2006 6.204
2007 8.528
2008 7.519
2009 7.537
2010 5.447
2011 6 Months* 5.807

* 2011 figure is for the first 6 months.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Monthly Energy Review, September 2011, Table 10.4.
Additional resources: National Biodiesel Board, Letter at Biodiesel Conference website and The Spokesman Review, Business section, January 2010

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