US Launches Four-Part Strategy to Expand Biofuel Market

by Beth Anton (Renewable Energy Magazine) U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brook Rollins announced the launch of USDA’s new American Biofuels Trade Outlook, a four-part strategy that aims to boost export opportunities for U.S. biofuel producers, at the 17th Annual Growth Energy Biofuel Summit.

According to Rollins, the first pillar aims to increase on-road ethanol blending.

“USDA will identify breakthrough markets like in Latin America and Southeast Asia…They are prime for E10 adoption,” Rollins said. “And, USDA will address implementation challenges for the 20 markets around the world with E10 policies in order to ensure continued, reliable access to existing ethanol export markets.”

The second pillar aims to reduce or remove restrictions other nations have placed on U.S. crop-based biofuels.

“Currently, several economies, including the European Union, restrict crop based biofuels from supplying their transportation fuel demand,” Rollins said. “These restrictions, hamstring growth opportunities for U.S. biofuels exports by limiting their potential uses. It is essential that we open more markets to our U.S. biofuels for on-road transportation, for aviation, and for marine fuel markets.”

The third pillar will aim to reach untapped and highiImpact markets by utilizing USDA market-access programs and the America First Trade Promotion Program to pursue strategic growth, calling out India for on-road expansion alongside long-term partners like Indonesia, Japan, and Vietnam.

The final pillar will attempt to accelerate engagement with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to secure fair treatment and prevent competing nations (such as Brazil) from shaping restrictive global regulations.

Rollins said the policy is designed to support corn and soybean farmers, boost agricultural sustainability, and create jobs in rural American communities. READ MORE

Excerpt from World Grain: US ethanol exports have reached new volume and value records during the past two years as global demand has increased while competition from Brazil has lessened, according to a report from the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the US Department of Agriculture.

Through this June, US ethanol exports are ahead of last year’s record pace, up 12% by volume and 21% by value. But, the FAS said, there are a handful of unknowns that could change the trajectory of US exports throughout the rest of 2026.

Changing US and global biofuel policies, the emergence and implementation of new trade agreements, and the impacts of high energy prices due to the conflict in the Middle East could all have major impacts, the FAS said.

In 2024, US ethanol exports reached records in seven of its top 10 markets, resulting in a record volume of 7.4 billion liters and a record value of $4.3 billion. The following year, export volumes reached new records in 5 of 10 markets, again resulting in a record export volume of 8.4 billion liters and a record value of $4.7 billion, the FAS said.

The first major driver of the US export records has been growing demand in the world’s largest ethanol-consuming markets. Top markets include Canada, the EU, the UK, India, Colombia and the Philippines.

Canada is the world’s top ethanol importer and typically accounts for more than one-third of US ethanol exports, the FAS said. US ethanol exports to Canada reached a record 2.7 billion liters and 3.1 billion liters in 2024 and 2025. Growth in Canadian fuel ethanol consumption is the direct result of the national Clean Fuel Regulations (CFR) and provincial policies in the most populated provinces of Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia.

US ethanol exports to the UK jumped to record highs in 2024 and 2025, at 1.1 billion liters and 1.3 billion liters due to a multitude of factors. For one, the UK implemented E10 gasoline in 2021, significantly boosting consumption and import demand.

Exports to the EU also set new records in 2024 and 2025, at 589 million liters and 836 million liters, respectively.

Along with growing global demand, the United States benefited from reduced export competition from Brazil. The two nations are the largest ethanol exporters, accounting for two-thirds to three-fourths of global exports each year.

In 2025, the US share of exports grew to 64% and Brazil fell to 12%, the FAS said. In absolute terms, Brazil exported 955 million fewer liters in 2025 compared with 2023. In that same time, the United States grew export volumes by 3 billion liters.

Brazil’s domestic demand absorbed a greater portion of ethanol production, the FAS said, limited exportable supplies and pushing Brazilian exports prices well above US export prices.

“Increased ethanol blending, competitive pricing of ethanol compared with gasoline and higher gasoline consumption supported strong Brazilian fuel ethanol consumption,” the FAS said. READ MORE