U.S. ethanol exports in March rose 4% to 217.8 million gallons (mg). Canada and the European Union accounted for roughly 6 out of every 10 gallons shipped, with the remainder distributed across an additional 11 markets. Shipments to Canada increased 23% to 75.1 mg, reinforcing its position as the leading destination for denatured fuel ethanol. Meanwhile, exports to the European Union climbed 18% to a six-year high of 58.8 mg, led by strong demand from the Netherlands, and continued to anchor the market for undenatured ethanol. Elsewhere, exports to the Philippines surged 157% to a two-year high of 15.2 mg, while shipments to Colombia rose 34% to 13.4 mg and South Korea increased 52% to 10.5 mg. Other larger destinations included Brazil (10.1 mg, -61%), Jamaica (8.3 mg, +374%), Peru (7.7 mg, +33%), India (6.8 mg, -75%), and Mexico (5.8 mg, -11%). Year-to-date U.S. ethanol exports reached 639.8 mg, running 20% ahead of the same period last year.
U.S. ethanol imports remained negligible in March, with just 5,511 gallons arriving from Canada. Total imports for the first quarter of 2026 reached 203,227 gallons.
U.S. exports of dried distillers grains (DDGS), the animal feed co-product generated by dry-mill ethanol plants, expanded 12% in March to a five-month high of 1.03 million metric tons (mt). Shipments to Mexico recovered, rising 22% to 213,575 mt, while exports to Indonesia jumped 61% to 163,702 mt. Exports to South Korea edged 7% lower to 114,345 mt, while shipments to Vietnam increased 44% to 101,428 mt. Colombia imports declined 15% to 71,515 mt. Collectively, these five markets accounted for about two-thirds of total DDGS exports, with the remainder spread across 26 additional destinations. For the first three months of the year, DDGS exports totaled 2.96 million mt, up 10% from the same period in 2025.
