U.S. exports and total usage of ethanol hit record highs last week, just as the Energy Information Administration marked the first anniversary of including ethanol export estimates in its Weekly Petroleum Status Report. The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) was instrumental in getting EIA to include the additional data, according to RFA Chief Economist Scott Richman. “Prior to May 2023, EIA’s …
Chandra Joins Grains Council Ethanol Efforts
The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) announces the addition of Ankit Chandra as new senior manager of global ethanol market development. In this role, Chandra will contribute to planning and implementing promotional programs and market analysis to advance U.S. ethanol exports across transportation and off-road applications, including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), maritime and other bio-based sectors. Chandra joins the Council with …
USGC Provides Ethanol Education in Latin America
As many countries across Latin America (LTA) seek to develop energy transition policies, the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) along with the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) have partnered to train government officials and industry and refinery representatives on the benefits of ethanol and its use in gasoline blending. The training program …
March Ethanol and DDGs Exports Hit 2 Year Highs
U.S. exports of both ethanol and the co-product dried distillers grains (DDGS) were higher in March, according to the latest analysis from the Renewable Fuels Association. March U.S. ethanol exports increased 15% to a 23-month high of 159.3 million gallons (mg), with 97% bound for just ten markets. The largest share (30%) transferred to Canada, our top customer for the …
US Ethanol Industry Seeks to Challenge EU SAF Regulation
The Renewable Fuels Association and LanzaJet are among U.S. ethanol interests seeking to intervene in a legal challenge of the European Union’s ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation, which effectively bans the use of renewable, crop-based biofuels like corn ethanol as a feedstock for decarbonizing the aviation sector. LanzaJet operates the world’s first ethanol-to-jet biorefinery in Georgia. Also collaborating in the intervention are …
USTR Working on Brazil Market Access for U.S. Ethanol
During a Senate Finance Committee hearing this week, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) asked U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Katherine Tai about the Biden administration’s “abdication of leadership on trade” and urged her to work on getting Brazil to lower tariffs on U.S. ethanol. “The last time you appeared before this committee I urged you to negotiate lower tariffs on ethanol …
U.S.-Japan Alliance Includes Ethanol as Carbon Reducer
President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida last week announced several new strategic initiatives to further advance the U.S.-Japan Alliance, including the importance of ethanol as a decarbonization solution within the transportation sector. A Joint Leaders’ Statement issued by the White House stated, “We intend to advance widespread adoption of innovative new clean energy technologies, and seek to …
Ethanol Industry Seeks Permanent End to Brazil Tariff
This week, the U.S. ethanol industry submitted comments to the Brazilian government seeking a permanent end to that country’s tariff on imported U.S. ethanol. The Renewable Fuels Association, U.S. Grains Council and Growth Energy jointly submitted comments within the Brazilian Chamber of Foreign Trade (CAMEX) regarding the 18% Brazilian tariff on all incoming U.S. ethanol, while Brazilian ethanol imports enjoy …
Ethanol Exports Down 7%, DDGS Up 9%
February U.S. ethanol exports slipped seven percent, while exports of the animal feed co-product dried distillers grains (DDGS) rebounded nine percent, according to the latest analysis from the Renewable Fuels Association. Ethanol exports in February totaled 139.0 million gallons (mg), with Canada as the top destination for the 35th consecutive month despite a 17% decline from January. “Exports surged to …
Lawmakers Pressure Administration on Brazil Ethanol Tariff
Last week, U.S. Reps. Randy Feenstra (R-IA) and Darin LaHood (R-IL) led two letters to the Biden administration – one to President Biden and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai urging greater action in developing new markets for biofuels exports, and a second to Tai and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack specifically requesting work toward a full repeal of the Brazilian …