The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) in collaboration with the Indiana Corn Marketing Council, hosted delegations from Japan, South Korea, India and Indonesia at the recent Indianapolis 500 to see the role ethanol plays in the annual race. Fourteen participants from Indonesia, Japan and Korea were in Illinois to gain on-the-ground experience including stops at farms, retail stations and ethanol plants. …
Export Exchange is Back for 2022
The Renewable Fuels Association, U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and Growth Energy are pleased to open registration for the first Export Exchange since 2018, scheduled for October 12-14, 2022, in Minneapolis. The biennial event had to be cancelled due to COVID in 2020 and again in 2021 but this year the sponsoring organizations expect to bring together 200 international buyers and …
US Welcomes Japan’s Commitment to Double Ethanol Demand
President Joe Biden met with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Japan this week and released a statement on a number of issues, including ethanol. Prime Minister Kishida and President Biden welcomed Japan’s commitment to take all available measures to double demand for bioethanol, including for sustainable aviation fuel and on-road fuel, by 2030 to reduce dependence on imported petroleum. The …
Panamanian Delegation Learns About US Ethanol
Panamanian stakeholders were in the United States last week to learn more about the economic and environmental benefits of implementing ethanol blend policies and to become familiar with the various aspects of the ethanol industry and the opportunities to complement local ethanol production with imports. Led by the U.S. Grains Council’s (USGC) Latin America regional ethanol consultants, Juan Diaz and …
MOU Aims To Expand Ethanol Use In Vietnam
The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) signed an official memorandum of understanding (MOU) this week with the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) aimed at expanding the use and availability of ethanol in Vietnam. The agreement promises to further a strong partnership between the two nations and encourage expanded ethanol use throughout Southeast Asia. “The Council stands ready to support …
Ethanol Industry Hopeful for US-Brazil Trade
U.S. ethanol stakeholder organizations are less than thrilled that Brazil’s tariff-rate quota (TRQ) has been extended now for another 90 days, but they are hopeful continued discussions will lead to a resumed free trade situation with that country. “The Renewable Fuels Association, U.S. Grains Council, Growth Energy, and the National Corn Growers Association believe the 90-day extension of the TRQ …
Export Exchange 2020 Postponed to 2021
The biennial Export Exchange is being postponed until 2021. The Exchange is co-sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association, U.S. Grains Council, and Growth Energy and held every other year to bring together buyers and sellers of U.S. coarse grains and co-products, including the distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS). The three organizations issued a joint statement on the postponement. “As …
Ethanol Industry Mourns Loss of Randy Ives
The ethanol industry lost a pioneer and a great friend this week as Randy Ives, 63, of Omaha, Nebraska has passed away after a courageous battle with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Ives was a U.S. Grains Council (USGC) delegate and a key figure in the development of distiller’s dried grain with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol market …
Grains Council Talks Trade at NAFB Trade Talk
Trade was probably the top topic at NAFB Trade Talk last week and the U.S. Grains Council was more than ready to talk about it. Darren Armstrong, a North Carolina farmer who is currently serving as chairman of the council, discussed the need for Congress to ratify USMCA, the new agreement with Japan, potential for ethanol in China, and some …
Global Ethanol Summit Kicks Off in DC
The first Global Ethanol Summit gets underway this morning in Washington D.C. with industry and government officials from 60 countries are meeting with U.S. officials to learn about prospects for expanded global ethanol use. This week’s Summit, sponsored by the Council, Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), features high-level government and industry officials from Algeria to Vietnam, who …