U.S. ethanol exports (denatured and undenatured, non-beverage) totaled 74.4 million gallons (mg) in April, down 11% from March but in line with January and February shipments, according to government data released this morning. Year-to-date exports stood at 308.9 mg through April, implying annualized demand of more than 900 mg.
At 54.8 mg, denatured ethanol for fuel use accounted for the majority of April exports. Undenatured ethanol for fuel use totaled 13.3 mg, while denatured ethanol for non-fuel use was reported at 6.0 mg. Exports of undenatured ethanol for non-fuel tallied 342,000 gallons.
Canada was the top destination in April, receiving 17.7 mg. The OPEC nation of United Arab Emirates (UAE) followed closely with 17.0 mg of imports, while its Arabian Peninsula neighbor Oman brought in 15.1 mg. Brazil imported just 5.8 mg in April, after importing 65.9 mg a year ago in April 2011 (the result of Brazil lowering its blending requirement from 25% to 20% ethanol). Meanwhile, the "ethanol shuffle" continued, and the U.S. imported 9.5 mg of sugarcane ethanol from Brazil. The United Kingdom was the fifth-leading importer in April, taking in 5.3 mg.
Exports of distillers grains, the livestock/poultry feed co-product of ethanol production, dipped slightly in April to 608,944 metric tons (mt). While down 5% from March, April exports were 4% above year-ago levels. Year-to-date DG exports totaled 2.47 million mt, 5% behind last year's pace. China was the top importer, bringing in 267,884 mt, followed by Mexico (111,318 mt), Canada (46,352 mt), Japan (27,109 mt), and Vietnam (17,989 mt). Shipments to China were at their highest since August 2010.
