U.S. ethanol exports surged 31% in November to 187.6 million gallons (mg), driven by significant growth across major markets and a doubling of undenatured fuel sales. Canada remained the top export destination for the 44th consecutive month, with exports rising 13% to 57.1 mg, primarily denatured fuel ethanol. Exports to India climbed 16% to a ten-month high of 24.0 mg, accounting for over half of exported undenatured ethanol intended for non-beverage/fuel applications. The European Union, the largest market for undenatured fuel ethanol, saw shipments skyrocket 186% to 23.8 mg—the highest volume in over four years. Other key markets also recorded substantial increases: the United Kingdom (up 72% to 18.3 mg), Colombia (up 46% to 13.2 mg), the Philippines (rising from zero to 13.1 mg), Mexico (up 21% to 8.2 mg), Singapore (tripled to 6.3 mg), and Vietnam (from zero to a record 5.2 mg). Meanwhile, Brazil and China remained virtually absent from the export landscape. Year-to-date U.S. ethanol exports reached 1.72 billion gallons (bg), a 38% increase compared to the same period in 2023. Remarkably, this surpasses the previous annual record of 1.68 bg set in 2018—for more on this, view today’s release here.
Fuel ethanol imports into the U.S. remained negligible in November, with only 7,910 gallons arriving from China. Year-to-date imports totaled 3.61 million gallons, 83% lower than the same period last year.
U.S. exports of dried distillers grains (DDGS), the animal feed co-product generated by dry-mill ethanol plants, slowed 15% in November to 946,804 metric tons (mt). Despite a 14% shave to 204,086 mt, Mexico remained the top market for U.S. DDGS. Declines were also seen across other major markets: South Korean imports dropped 39% to a 16-month low of 72,004 mt, Colombia’s imports halved from October’s record high to 67,916 mt, and the European Union reduced imports by 33% to 51,474 mt. However, several larger markets saw growth: Exports to Vietnam rose 18% to a 13-month high of 117,519 mt, Turkey imported 15% more at 80,293 mt, exports to Indonesia increased 21% to 66,498 mt, and shipments to Canada surged 65% to 57,849 mt. The remaining quarter of November’s DDGS exports were spread across 23 additional countries. Year-to-date U.S. DDGS exports reached 11.16 million mt, a 14% increase compared to the same period last year.
