UoI sees higher Brazilian ethanol imports in 2013

In Illinois, University of Illinois economists have forecasted Brazilian ethanol imports to jump this year to 600 million gallons, up from 400 million gallons last year, but admit that making accurate forecasts at this point is difficult. If the forecast is true, it will mean 400 million gallons less of domestic ethanol will need to be produced, reducing corn demand by 145 million bushels. They say import demand will be tied to how much biodiesel can be produced domestically in order for the two to reach the 1.28 billion gallons of advanced biofuels required under the RFS.