October ethanol exports fall 17% on year to below 100M gallons for second time in 2022

In Washington, the Renewable Fuels Association reports U.S. ethanol exports dropped below 100 million gallons for the second time in more than a year, scaling back 17% to 83.8 million gallons in October. However, shipments crossing north of our borders picked up by 5% so that Canada secured its status as our largest importer for the nineteenth consecutive month. While falling shy of its August record, Canada’s purchase of 44.5 million gallons was equivalent to over half (53%) of total U.S. exports in October. The bulk of the remaining U.S. ethanol exports were destined for India (7.4 million gallons, the first meaningful imports in 5 months), the European Union (6.9 million gallons, -59%)—primarily led by the Netherlands—Mexico (6.5 million gallons, +121% to a 7-month high), South Korea (5.0 million gallons, -58% to the lowest volume in over 2 years), and Peru (4.5 million gallons, up from essentially zero). Brazil and China again were principally absent from our export market. Year-to-date U.S. ethanol shipments totaled 1.20 billion gallons, pressing 22% ahead of last year’s pace.

The U.S. imported 16.0 million gallons of undenatured ethanol from Brazil. Total year-to-date imports stand at 58.4 million gallons, on par with last year at this time.