U.S. Ethanol Exports Hit 25-Month High; Brazil is Top Customer

by Ann Lewis (Renewable Fuels Association) U.S. ethanol shipments in January rocketed to 86.2 million gallons (mg), marking the highest monthly export volume since December 2011, according to government data released last week. Exports were up a third from December 2013, while imports remained sparse, meaning the United States was a net ethanol exporter by the widest margin in over two years.
Brazil kicked off its sugarcane “inter-harvest” season by importing 23.9 mg of U.S. ethanol, the largest monthly volume to Brazil since January 2012. Canada lost its lead as top U.S. ethanol importer with a 36% drop in imports over December, receiving 18.8 mg. The United Arab Emirates (12.4 mg), India (10.7 mg), the Philippines (5.5 mg), and Mexico (3.3 mg) were other top destinations. Recent market entrants Nigeria and Tunisia continued to import noticeable volumes.
Of total export shipments in January, 58% were classified as undenatured for fuel use, 37% were denatured for fuel use, and 5% were denatured and undenatured for non-fuel, non-beverage purposes. Monthly exports of undenatured ethanol for fuel use hit an historic high, with Brazil taking nearly half of shipments. Similarly, exports of undenatured for non-fuel, non-beverage purposes set an all-time monthly record, with Nigeria responsible for 89% of purchases in January. READ MORE and MORE (Ethanol Producer Magazine) and MORE (FarmDocDaily) and MORE (ICIS Chemical Business) and MORE (Ethanol Producer Magazine)