U.S. ethanol exports totaled 49.8 million gallons (mg) in August, a 42% increase over July's total of 35.1 mg, according to government data released recently. Canada was again the leading destination, followed by the Philippines and United Kingdom. Year-to-date U.S. exports through August stood at 365.6 mg, implying an annualized total of 548.3 mg. Meanwhile U.S. ethanol imports scaled to 78.4 mg in August, meaning the United States was a net importer for the third straight month.
Exports of denatured ethanol for fuel use were 34.5 mg in August, up 9% from the July total of 31.6 mg. Canada again received the lion's share (95%) of denatured product (32.6 mg), followed by Peru (1.7 mg) and the Netherlands (66,890 gals.). Undenatured fuel ethanol exports totaled 14.4 mg, leaping up from 2.5 mg in July. The Philippines was the top customer for undenatured product in August (5.9 mg), followed by the United Kingdom (3.3 mg), Norway (3.2 mg) and Colombia (1.4 mg). Denatured and undenatured ethanol exports for non-fuel, non-beverage use tallied 1.0 mg.
U.S. ethanol imports for August rocketed to their highest volume of the year, up from 56.8 mg in July to 78.4 mg. Brazil accounted for virtually all of the imports, with a miniscule amount (182 gals.) coming from the Netherlands. Year-to-date imports stood at 329.7 mg through August, implying an annual total of 494.5 mg. This would account for only three-quarters of imports needed to meet the RFS2 advanced biofuel standard in 2013, as estimated by EPA.
Year-to-date, the United States has been a net exporter of 35.9 mg in 2013. By comparison, net exports for January to August 2012 were 316 mg.
U.S. distillers dried grains (DDG) exports hit a record-breaking 1,049,510 metric tons (mt) in August, up 15% from July. China was again the top customer for DDG exports, receiving 565,249 mt (54% of total). Mexico (116,843 mt), South Korea (55,381), Japan (39,530 mt) and Canada (37,928 mt) rounded out the top five destinations. Year-to-date DDG exports stood at 5.92 million mt through August, implying an annualized total of 8.9 mmt—this would rival the DDG export record set in 2010.
