U.S. exports of denatured and undenatured (non-beverage) ethanol totaled 121.4 million gallons (mg) in October, just shy of the record of 127.4 mg established in June, according to government data released this morning. Brazil was the leading destination for U.S. exports, receiving a total of 50 mg. Canada and the EU continued to be other top export markets. Through the first 10 months of 2011, U.S. exports stood at 867.9 mg, more than double the 2010 export total. The U.S. is on pace to export more than 1 billion gallons in the calendar year.
October exports included 84.5 mg of denatured product and 36.9 mg (a new monthly record) of undenatured ethanol. Canada was the top importer of denatured ethanol in October, taking in some 22.9 mg. Brazil followed closely with 22.4 mg, while the Netherlands (16.9 mg), United Kingdom (11.0 mg) and Finland (5.0 mg) rounded out the top five. Year-to-date, Canada has been the leading importer with 233.4 mg, followed by Brazil with 156.3 mg.
As for undenatured ethanol, Brazil received the lion's share of exported product in October, bringing in 25.6 mg. The Philippines (4.3 mg), the Netherlands (2.4 mg), Nigeria (2.2 mg), and Mexico (2.0 mg) were other top destinations. On a year-to-date basis, Brazil has been the top importer of undenatured ethanol, receiving 93.7 mg.
Meanwhile, the U.S. imported 13.1 mg of ethanol for fuel use from Brazil in October, presumably for compliance with the Renewable Fuel Standard's (RFS) advanced biofuel requirement and California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). Imports of sugarcane ethanol from Brazil have picked up significantly in recent months at the same time U.S. exports of corn ethanol to Brazil have grown. This "shuffling effect" is the subject of an extensive analysis and blog post the RFA will be releasing early next week.
