French Bioethanol Consumption Passes 19 Million Hectolitres
Bioethanol consumption in French gasoline increased by 15 percent in 2025, reaching more than 19 million hectolitres, according to industry figures published in February 2026.
The increase significantly outpaced the 5.6 percent growth recorded in overall gasoline consumption during the year.
The market expansion was driven both by higher gasoline demand and by greater ethanol incorporation across conventional gasoline blends.
The figures show that ethanol demand in France is continuing to expand even as the wider European passenger-car market moves gradually toward electrification.
Gasoline and Hybrid Cars Support the Market
Changes in the French vehicle fleet are helping sustain ethanol demand.
Gasoline and hybrid vehicles represented 74 percent of the 1.63 million passenger cars registered in France during 2025, compared with 41 percent a decade earlier.
Over the same period, diesel’s share of new registrations fell sharply.
That shift matters for ethanol producers because ethanol is blended into France’s gasoline pool through fuels including SP95, SP95-E10 and Superethanol-E85.
Around 60 percent of the ethanol consumed in France during 2025 was produced domestically from feedstocks including sugar beet, wheat, maize and agricultural residues.
The remainder was sourced largely from other European Union markets.
E85 Remains a Significant Part of French Ethanol Demand
Superethanol-E85 remains an important part of the French renewable fuel market even though consumption eased slightly from its earlier peak.
The high-ethanol blend accounted for approximately 34 percent of all ethanol used in French gasoline during 2025.
Bioéthanol France said average E85 pump prices were around €0.73 per litre during 2025, compared with approximately €1.69 per litre for SP95-E10.
The broader market outlook will depend on fuel prices, vehicle availability, taxation and future European transport regulation.
French producers are also watching international trade policy closely, including the potential effects of additional ethanol imports under the EU-Mercosur trade framework.
The 2025 figures nevertheless show that ethanol remains a sizeable part of France’s road-fuel market, with consumption growing faster than gasoline demand as a whole.
Sources
Bioéthanol France — After a 15% Increase in French Consumption in 2025, a New Era Opens for Bioethanol in 2026, February 3, 2026
Reuters — French Ethanol Use Jumps 15% in 2025, Driven by Gasoline Demand, February 3, 2026