U.S. ethanol exports totaled 189.7 million gallons (mg) in May, rebounding 11% from April's sharp downturn as shipments strengthened across most major markets. Canada remained the leading destination for denatured fuel ethanol, with exports climbing 18% to a six-month high of 76.3 mg. Exports to the European Union, led by the Netherlands, increased 15% to 39.1 mg, continuing to underpin demand for undenatured ethanol. Together, Canada and the EU accounted for 61% of total May exports. Nigeria imported 12.7 mg—its largest monthly volume of U.S. ethanol since December 2021—while exports to Colombia surged 72% to 10.9 mg. In contrast, shipments to South Korea fell 38% to 10.1 mg, and exports to the United Kingdom slipped 4% to 9.9 mg. Exports to Vietnam more than quadrupled to 7.7 mg, while exports to the Philippines declined 34% to 7.3 mg. Notably, exports to both Brazil and India remained essentially zero. Year-to-date U.S. ethanol exports reached 1.00 billion gallons, running 11% ahead of the same period last year.
U.S. fuel ethanol imports totaled 256,801 gallons in May, with Brazil supplying 70% and Canada accounting for the remaining 30%. Imports reached their highest monthly volume since March 2025. Still, through the first five months of 2026, total fuel ethanol imports stood at just 462,120 gallons.
May U.S. exports of dried distillers grains (DDGS), the animal feed coproduct generated by dry-mill ethanol plants, increased 6% to 1.08 million metric tons (mt), reflecting higher shipments across most major export markets. Shipments to Mexico climbed 2% to 210,925 mt, while exports to South Korea advanced 14% to 138,272 mt. Exports to Indonesia slipped 2% to 136,543 mt, and shipments to Vietnam eased 1% to 113,288 mt. Meanwhile, exports to the European Union surged 64% to 102,872 mt. Collectively, these five markets accounted for roughly two-thirds of all DDGS exports in May, with nearly 30 additional destinations making up the remainder. Through the first five months of 2026, cumulative DDGS exports reached 5.06 million mt, up 14% from the same period in 2025.
