China February ethanol imports soar to 21-month high at 197,652 cubic meters

In China, Reuters reports that February ethanol imports jumped to 197,652 cubic meters, the highest imports seen since May 2016, with 189,035 cubic meters coming from the US. Cheap US ethanol due to high stocks mean that landed ethanol is still profitable even with the 30% import tariff in place. Threats of boosting that import tariff in retaliation of President Trump’s proposed steel tariffs would likely close that arbitrage window, however, putting a damper on US exports just as they were beginning to ramp up.