May ethanol exports fell 21% on year

In Washington, the Renewable Fuels Association says May U.S. ethanol exports moderated from April’s four-year high, declining 21% to 147.1 million gallons (mg). However, Canada increased its imports by 4% to 41.8 mg in May, maintaining its status as our top customer for 14 consecutive months and logging its largest monthly volume in eight years (also its second largest on record). South Korea saw weaker sales in May, importing 19.3 mg (down 18%). Exports to the Netherlands climbed 12% to a 19-month high of 15.4 mg. Shipments to these three countries represented half of total U.S. exports in May. Other substantial importers of U.S. ethanol included India (10.9 mg, -9%), the United Kingdom (8.1 mg, -37%), Brazil (7.7 mg, -74%), and Peru (5.6 mg, -38%). Notably, China again was essentially absent from our export market. Total U.S. ethanol exports for the first five months of 2022 were 725.9 mg, up 24% from the same period in 2021 and remaining on a record pace.

The U.S. logged its first significant imports of foreign ethanol in four months with 10.6 mg of Brazilian undenatured ethanol entering our borders in May (South Africa also shipped 10,411 gallons of denatured fuel ethanol). Total year-to-date imports stand at 21.3 mg (in contrast, there were essentially zero imports during the same period in 2021).