U.S. ethanol exports record 5th highest year as COVID-19 weighed on global trade

In Washington, D.C., the U.S. Grains Council reports that the marketing year ended Aug. 31, recording the fifth highest overall export total for U.S. ethanol exports, 1.31 billion gallons, despite market challenges due to COVID-19.

Exports were down eight percent from the previous marketing year, reflecting the challenges pandemic restrictions have had on fuel demand and trade. The first half of the year’s exports occurred before the issuance of widespread stay-at-home orders that drastically impacted demand for fuel around the globe.

While industrial exports remained strong, they sagged slightly relative to the surge of sanitizing application demand from the outset of the pandemic.

“The lingering effects of COVID-19 stay-at-home orders were reflected in global ethanol trade in the most recent marketing year,” said Brian Healy, director of global ethanol market development for the U.S. Grains Council (USGC). “Looking forward, more aggressive blend rates that have already been set, or will need to be set to meet emissions reduction goals, will support increased global ethanol demand and trade.”

The top 10 export markets for U.S. ethanol are listed here.