U.S. ethanol exports (denatured and undenatured, non-beverage) totaled 49.4 million gallons (mg) in September, down 2% from August and the lowest monthly total of the year, according to government data released today. Year-to-date ethanol exports stood at 589.6 mg through September.
Canada was the leading destination in September, bringing in 26.1 mg. The Netherlands followed with 10.9 mg, while Mexico (2.8 mg), Peru (2.7 mg), and Jamaica (2.5 mg) were other leading importers. Of the total, 35 mg was denatured ethanol for fuel use, and 12.9 mg was undenatured ethanol for fuel use. Less than 1.5 mg was denatured and undenatured ethanol for non-fuel uses.
Meanwhile, the U.S. imported 105.7 mg of ethanol in September, 92.5 mg of which was destined for fuel use. Nearly all of the ethanol imports came from Brazil, either directly (93.1 mg) or via re-exportation through Jamaica (5.1 mg), El Salvador (3.6 mg), and Nicaragua (2.7 mg). Year-to-date ethanol imports through September stood at 385 mg, of which 317 mg was intended for fuel use and 68 mg was intended for non-fuel applications. The chart below shows U.S. net exports of denatured and undenatured ethanol for fuel use only. After two months of significant net imports, year-to-date net U.S. ethanol exports for fuel use stands at 217.6 mg.
Distillers grains exports for the month totaled 600,545 metric tons (mt), up 11% from August. China was again the leading destination for U.S. distillers grains, importing 177,143 mt. Mexico followed with 123,030 mt. Viet Nam unseated Canada, the longtime No. 3 import customer, with shipments of 37,194 mt. Japan (35,825 mt) and Canada (34,271 mt) rounded out the top five. Year-to-date distillers grains exports stood at 5.751 million mt through August, implying an annualized total of 7.67 million mt.
