July ethanol exports at just 74 million gallons to six-year July low

In Washington, government data published Monday showed U.S. ethanol exports slumping to just 74 million gallons in July, down 38 percent compared to the same month last year and the lowest total for July in six years. The escalation of trade barriers and the impacts of COVID-19 have caused year-to-date ethanol exports to slide 9 percent compared to the same period last year and 22 percent compared to the same period in 2018.

After regularly serving as top export markets in recent years, virtually no U.S. ethanol was shipped to Brazil, China, or Colombia in July due to the existence of unjustified trade barriers in those countries, according to the Renewable Fuels Association. Combined export volumes to those three countries hit a peak of 129 million gallons in March 2018, but dropped to a trickle of just 34,000 gallons in July 2020. The dearth of exports to those markets emphasizes the need for the U.S. government to take decisive action to remove barriers and ensure a level playing field for global ethanol trade, according to the Renewable Fuels Association.