Europe's Diesel Crisis: Macron Urges EU to Raise Biodiesel Blend Limit from B7 to B10

Brussels — French President Emmanuel Macron has asked the European Commission to temporarily relax fuel quality standards, including raising the biodiesel blending limit from B7 to B10, to boost supply and ease pump prices as Europe grapples with a diesel supply crisis. The request has reopened the debate over how much biodiesel European diesel may contain.

Macron made the request in a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on 18 September 2026, as reported by Bloomberg, Rigzone and other media on 21–22 September. Beyond the biodiesel blend, he asked for a temporary easing of fuel specifications such as density, evaporation limits and desulphurisation requirements — changes estimated to lift refinery output by around 5–20%, depending on the refinery. He also sought a one-year delay to methane measurement and control obligations for importers, scheduled to take effect on 1 January 2027.

What a move from B7 to B10 means in Europe

Europe's diesel standard currently caps biodiesel (FAME) content at 7%, or B7, while the B10 standard allows up to 10%. Under B10, distributors could supply diesel containing 10% biodiesel, giving them more room to secure supply. According to the European Biodiesel Board (EBB), moving to B10 would directly cut fossil diesel use by about 3%.

A European Commission spokesperson confirmed the letter had been received and would be answered "in due course" (aa.com.tr); no formal decision on B10 has been made. According to media reports, the Commission also said potential supply shortages in member states were "very much a priority" and that the issue would be discussed at a high-level meeting with industry and member states. The Commission noted that B10 has a slightly lower energy content, so fuel consumption could rise very marginally. Approval from vehicle manufacturers remains a precondition; the Commission would need to work with the automotive industry to determine which standards can safely be relaxed.

Europe's biodiesel industry welcomes the call

"EBB has consistently pushed for B10 and higher blends of FAME and HVO," said EBB Secretary General Xavier Noyon. "Fewer restrictions mean faster decarbonisation, and Europe's biofuel sector is ready to deliver." He added: "We need a clear signal from the European Commission." The EBB pointed to studies and the AGQM approval list showing that many commercial vehicles and inland waterway vessels are already able to run on high biodiesel blends.

On the other hand, some analysts cautioned that loosening sulphur limits could give refineries more flexibility but might also increase pollution.

The Indonesian perspective

The B7-versus-B10 debate in Europe shows how far ahead Indonesia is: the country moved past B10 in 2013 and now implements B50. For the palm oil industry, Europe's stance still matters. Under its renewable energy framework, the European Union restricts biofuels made from feedstocks at high risk of land-use change, including palm oil. As a result, higher blending in Europe does not automatically open the market to palm-based biodiesel — additional demand is more likely to be met by biodiesel from rapeseed, used cooking oil and HVO.