Finland-based refiner Neste's renewable diesel sales totaled 662,000 mt in the fourth quarter of 2016, a new quarterly record high and a 6% increase on the year, the company said in its 2016 financial statement released Tuesday.
Of this, around 68% went to European markets, down from 70% a year earlier, with 32% going to North America, up from 30%.
Production in Q4, however, fell 5% on the year to 551,000 mt.
Total production of renewable diesel in 2016 also fell 4.9% from 2015 to 2.213 million mt, with total sales down 2% at 2.222 million mt.
Of total 2016 sales, 66% went to Europe and 34% to North America, down from 69% and 31%, respectively.
Neste's usage of its 2.6 million mt a year renewable diesel production capacity averaged 88% in Q4, down from 94% a year earlier due to unscheduled maintenance at its Rotterdam refinery.
The company said that the share of waste and residue feedstocks was expanded to be 78% of its total renewable inputs in 2016 compared with 68% in 2015 and that it hoped the acquisition of a pretreatment facility in the Netherlands would add to its ability to process lower-quality wastes and residues.
Neste said it planned to continue its global renewables growth strategy in 2017 because demand for renewables was expected to increase. It said it aimed to build new capacity over the course of 2017, adding that it would release further details on this in Q1.
