In the latest trade monitor update from the Renewable Fuels Association, U.S. exports of both ethanol and the co-product dried distillers grains (DDGS) were up in July.

Exports of ethanol increased six percent in July to 107.2 million gallons (mg), marking the tenth consecutive month that exports were over 100 mg.

Canada imported 41.6 mg, up 1%, to maintain its status as our largest customer. Sales to Singapore quadrupled to 12.3 mg (its largest imports of U.S. ethanol since Jan. 2018), while exports to the Netherlands increased 7% to 11.4 mg. However, shipments to South Korea declined by a third to an 8-month low of 9.3 mg. Other substantial importers of U.S. ethanol included Peru (5.6 mg, +73%), Mexico (5.3 mg, +10%), and the United Kingdom (4.5 mg, -63%). China and Brazil again were not key market players in July. Total U.S. ethanol exports for the first seven months of 2022 were 932.9 mg, up 30% from the same period in 2021 and remaining on a record pace.

DDGS exports in July were up five percent to a six month high of 1.06 million metric tons.

Mexico returned as our largest market, up 40% to 221,587 mt, representing 21% of July shipments. Turkey imported 111,813 mt, up 2% and its largest volume of U.S. DDGS in a year. Vietnam cut its imports by half to 103,068 mt on the heels of sharply higher sales in June, and exports to Indonesia slipped 1% to 93,161 mt. These four countries represented half of our export market in July. Other larger markets included Canada (87,431 mt, -11%), South Korea (86,071, +6%), Japan (59,187 mt, +118%), Israel (54,776 mt, +90% to a record high), and Ireland (45,388 mt, +36%). The remaining U.S. DDGS shipments were dispersed among another 20 countries. Year-to-date exports totaled 6.73 million mt, which is 4% greater than the same period in 2021.

Increasing markets for U.S. DDGS exports will be in focus next month at the Export Exchange, which allows overseas attendees the opportunity to build relationships with U.S. suppliers. This will be the first time the biennial event, which is co-sponsored by RFA, has been held since 2018. The conference in Minneapolis October 12-14 is expected to attract more than 350 attendees, including 150 from 50 countries participating.

RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper talked about ethanol industry exports and the Export Exchange during this interview from the Farm Progress Show last week.
FPS22 Interview with RFA CEO Geoff Cooper (8:46)