China sourcing ethanol from Central America after US arb window closed

In China, Platts reports that with the ethanol arbitrage window tightly shut against the US after imposition of an additional 15% import tariff, importers are instead looking towards origins in Central and South America to source needed supplies. Shipments heard include a likely one-off duty-free shipment of up to 17,000 metric tons from Costa Rica to a Chinese oil refiner for prompt loading. Other Central American origins who would traditionally ship to Europe but have hit a weak market there are courting China instead.