Rush to deliver ethanol to China before Christmas ahead of new levies

In China, the massive surge in ethanol imports has slowed down significantly in the wake of concerns about a potential hike in duties for denatured ethanol. With buyers swiftly pulling back from the market, the fall in demand has in turn weighed on ethanol prices overall. Pending shipments are being expedited so they arrive before Christmas to head off any potential complications should the levies be raised in January as expected. Prices have fallen by about $40 per metric ton since early October.