A multi-colored chart from USDA’s Economic Research Service illustrates the growth of U.S. ethanol exports over the last decade, as well as shifting market trends.

Ethanol exports hit a record 2.13 billion gallons during the 2024/25 (September–August) corn marketing year, up 23 percent from the previous record year, and more than double the one billion gallons exported ten years ago with significant shifts in market destinations such as growth in exports to Canada as exports to Brazil declined.

Brazil was once the top destination for U.S. fuel ethanol, but as Brazil’s ethanol production has increased, its imports of U.S. fuel ethanol have declined. Reduced U.S. sales to Brazil, however, have been more than offset by expanding exports elsewhere. Exports to Canada, for example, grew from 322 million gallons in 2019/20 to 758 million gallons in 2024/25. Ethanol demand has grown in Canada with the implementation of mandates on use of low carbon and renewable fuels. Netherlands also showed strong growth, importing 282 million gallons of U.S. fuel ethanol in 2024/25, up from 16 million gallons in 2015/16. At 5.44 billion bushels, use for fuel ethanol accounted for 36 percent of total U.S. corn use in 2024/25. Finally, although not shown in the chart, data from September through January of marketing year 2025/26 indicate U.S. fuel ethanol exports were 7 percent higher than the same period in 2024/25.

This chart was developed from USDA Economic Research Service’s Bioenergy Statistics data.