U.S. ethanol exports set record in 2017
According to government data released Tuesday and a new report by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), U.S. ethanol exports set a new record in 2017 of 1.37 billion gallons.
The 2017 number represents an increase of 17 percent from 2016 and surpass the previous record, set in 2011, by approximately 174 million gallons (mg)
The United States shipped ethanol to more than 60 countries around the world in 2017. Brazil imported the most U.S. ethanol exports of any country and received 446 mg or 33 percent of total shipments. Canada received 328 mg from the United States, while India received 173 mg.
Ethanol exports for 2017 are valued at $2.4 billion, a 16 percent increase from 2016 and the second-highest value on record.
“Even when facing massive trade policy headwinds in 2017, the U.S. ethanol industry rose to the challenge by delivering record volumes of low-cost, high-octane fuel to the world market…” RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen said. “The U.S. ethanol industry is proud of this accomplishment, and looks forward to continuing to grow the global market for ethanol and other renewable fuels.”
Dinneen also noted that one out of every 11 gallons of ethanol produced in the United States was exported.
Undenatured fuel ethanol made up 60 percent of total exports, and denatured fuel ethanol accounted for 36 percent. The remaining four percent of exports were comprised of denatured and undenatured ethanol for non-fuel industrial uses.
The United States received only 77 mg of ethanol imports in 2017, nearly all of which entered the country through California ports to meet the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard requirements.
