U.S. ethanol exports edged 1% lower in February to a still-strong 209.9 million gallons (mg), though volumes remained 36% above year-ago levels. More than half of February shipments went to Canada and the European Union, with the balance distributed across nine other countries. Canada remained the top overall destination, even as exports eased 12% to a 10-month low of 61.2 mg, and it accounted for 70% of all denatured fuel ethanol shipments. The European Union continued to lead as the largest market for undenatured fuel ethanol. Total ethanol exports to the European Union surged 42% to a record 49.8 mg, led by the Netherlands. Exports to India jumped 120% to a three-month high of 26.7 mg. Brazil fell 30% from January to 25.7 mg; even so, U.S. exports to Brazil in just the first two months of 2026 already exceed Brazil’s full-year 2025 imports by 25%. Rounding out the top markets were Colombia (10.0 mg, -17%), the United Kingdom (9.3 mg, +17%), South Korea (6.9 mg, -2%), Mexico (6.5 mg, +57%), the Philippines (5.9 mg, -48%), and Peru (5.8 mg, up fourfold). Year-to-date U.S. ethanol exports totaled 421.9 mg, 25% ahead of the same period last year.
U.S. ethanol imports remained minimal in February, with just 138,663 gallons arriving from Brazil and Canada. Total imports for the year remain below 200,000 gallons.
U.S. exports of dried distillers grains (DDGS), the animal feed co-product generated by dry-mill ethanol plants, declined 9% in February to 919,855 metric tons (mt). Much of the decline reflected a 23% drop in shipments to Mexico, the top destination, to 174,775 mt. South Korea increased 2% to 123,571 mt, while Indonesia rose 11% to 101,868 mt. Colombia slipped 19% from a record high to 84,597 mt. Vietnam dipped 1% to 70,438 mt, its lowest shipment volume in a year. Other major markets included Canada (46,460 mt, -14%), Turkey (45,245 mt, -24%), the European Union (40,639 mt, +17%), Morocco (40,233 mt, +63%), and Japan (26,250 mt, -12%). The remaining one-third of February shipments was spread across 27 additional countries. Year-to-date DDGS exports reached 1.93 million mt, 16% above the same period last year.
