USDA Increases Corn for Ethanol Forecast

Cindy Zimmerman

USDA’s World Agricultural Supply & Demand Estimate for December calls for greater corn use for ethanol, larger exports, and lower ending stocks.

Corn used to produce ethanol is raised 50 million bushels to 5.5 billion, based on the most recent data from the Grain Crushings and Co-Products Production report and weekly ethanol production data as reported by the Energy Information Administration for the month of November. These data imply corn used for ethanol during the September to November quarter was the highest since 2017. Corn exports are raised 150 million bushels to 2.5 billion reflecting the pace of sales and shipments to date. With no other use changes, corn ending stocks are reduced 200 million bushels to 1.7 billion. The season-average corn price received by producers is unchanged at
$4.10 per bushel.

corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, USDA

Ethanol Exports Still on Record Pace

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. ethanol exports slowed in October but are still on pace to set a record this year.

According to the latest update from the Renewable Fuels Association, ethanol exports were 3% lower in October, reflecting significant market fluctuations and a heavy concentration of shipments to two primary destinations. Canada maintained its status as the leading export market for the 43rd consecutive month, despite a 22% reduction in shipments, marking a four-month low. In contrast, exports to India surged fourfold to a seven-month high of 20.7 mg, comprising the bulk of exported undenatured ethanol intended for applications other than fuel and beverage. So far this year, U.S. ethanol exports have reached 1.53 billion gallons (bg), a 35% year-over-year increase and a record high for the ten-month period.

At the same time, U.S. exports of dried distillers grains (DDGS) increased 10% in October to 1.11 million metric tons (mt), mirroring the large market variability seen in ethanol exports. Mexico remained the dominant market, with exports climbing 33% to a three-month high of 236,492 mt. Colombia set a record high with a ninefold increase to 132,758 mt. Year-to-date DDGS exports reached 10.21 million mt, representing a 14% increase compared to the same period last year.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

MN Bio-Fuels Releases 2024 Annual Report

Cindy Zimmerman

MN Bio-Fuels Board President Brian Kletscher, and Executive Director Brian Werner share annual report

The Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MN Bio-Fuels) released its 2024 Annual Report last week at an event which included a keynote speech by Geoff Cooper, President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association.

“As we look at the potential for record ethanol production and exports in 2024, we salute our farmers and ethanol producers for all their hard work this past year,” Cooper said. “Minnesota is one of our top ethanol-producing states and has been an important part of our industry’s success. We thank the dedicated staff and leaders of the Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association in bringing the industry together and supporting rural communities across the North Star State.”

MN Bio-Fuels’ 2024 Annual Report highlighted the various efforts undertaken by MN Bio-Fuels in the areas of advocacy, fuel and supply chain, and communications in 2024, as well as priorities for 2025.

“Whatever 2025 brings from a political, regulatory, or market perspective, we will be prepared to help the statewide ethanol industry remain competitive while working to foster an environment for stability and growth,” said Brian Werner, Executive Director of MN Bio-Fuels.

The report included updates to the organization during the year such as the addition of a new producer member (Bushmills Ethanol), and three new vendor members (AgCountry, LJP Waste Solutions and Clean Energy Economy Minnesota).

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

K-State Research Could Lead to Improved Biodiesel

Cindy Zimmerman

Camelina can produce biodiesel

A recent breakthrough by Kansas State University biochemists could lead to the cover crops pennycress and camelina becoming new sources for improved biodiesel.

A research team led by Timothy Durrett, professor of biochemistry and molecular biophysics, and doctoral conferee Linah Alkotami used synthetic biology techniques to significantly increase the amount of acetyl-triacylglycerols — a unique type of oil found and adapted from the burning bush plant — in pennycress and camelina to near-pure levels.

These acetyl-triacylglycerols, or acetyl-TAGs, are very useful for their low viscosity and performance in cold temperatures — a key criterion for use as diesel replacement.

The team published its results in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The overwintering ability of these crops are of particular interest to farmers who could plant them in late fall and harvest in early spring.

Biodiesel, feedstocks

US Ethanol Industry Supports SE Asia Markets

Cindy Zimmerman

USGC meeting with Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade

Representatives of the U.S. ethanol industry recently traveled to Southeast Asia to provide support for the governments of Indonesia and Vietnam as they expand their domestic fuel ethanol policies.

Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) Vice President Tad Hepner joined U.S. Grains Council President and CEO Ryan LeGrand and staff based in its Southeast Asia and Oceania regional office for high-level meetings with government officials and private sector leaders.

Indonesia is working toward instituting a five percent blend of fuel ethanol into gasoline for retail use (E5) in 2025 and a 10 percent blend (E10) by 2030. Concurrently, Vietnam is exploring opportunities to expand its current E5 mandate for the RON92 (88 AKI) grade of gasoline. Indonesia and Vietnam currently consume roughly 10 billion gallons and three billion gallons of gasoline per year, respectively.

“The governments of Indonesia and Vietnam see the potential of ethanol in reducing costs along the supply chain while simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and the Council and its allies are working to assure policymakers that ethanol is a viable and compatible option for nearly all road vehicles,” LeGrand said.

In Indonesia, the team met with Pertamina, Indonesia’s state-run oil and gas company, to discuss the company’s current bioethanol trial and tour Indonesia’s largest fuel terminal, where fuel ethanol blending is now happening. The delegation then traveled to Vietnam for meetings with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Finance to discuss further cooperation activities underpinning Vietnam’s efforts to expand the use of ethanol.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, International, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA, USGC

2025 Marks 30th National Ethanol Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

The ethanol industry will be getting “Back to Our Roots” in 2025 with the Renewable Fuels Association’s 30th annual National Ethanol Conference, taking place in Nashville February 17–19.

RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper says the theme “Back to Our Roots” was chosen to reflect the ethanol industry’s humble beginnings, its incredible growth, and its enduring ties to American agriculture. “So part of our time at the conference will be spent looking back and reflecting on the success of the industry and what it has done to transform agriculture and our energy sector,” said Cooper.

Since 1996, NEC has been the nation’s most widely attended executive-level conference for the ethanol industry, where sessions featuring globally renowned speakers are interspersed with numerous networking opportunities to help the industry connect and collaborate. Last year in San Diego, RFA hosted nearly 900 industry stakeholders, hailing from 36 states and 20 other countries.

Click here for more information and to register, and learn more about the conference in this interview with Cooper from the recent NAFB Convention.

RFA CEO Geoff Cooper, NEC preview (4:36)

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, National Ethanol Conference, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Clean Fuels Alliance Ready to Accelerate

Cindy Zimmerman

“Accelerate” is the theme for the 2025 Clean Fuels Conference, Jan. 20-23 at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel in San Diego, California.

Clean Fuels Alliance America CEO Donnell Rehagen says the meeting theme refers to the rapid growth and transformative progress of the biodiesel, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel industries. “With the clean fuels industry accelerating at an unprecedented pace, this conference is crucial for anyone involved in shaping the future of heavy-duty transportation,” said Rehagen.

“We’re now a 5 billion gallon year industry. We’ve doubled in size in the last four years… So we’re we’re expecting to have probably about 1000 people gathering San Diego,” Rehagen added.

For more details on registration, agenda and lodging, visit CleanFuelsConference.org, and listen to an interview with Rehagen here to find out more of what’s in store.

NAFB24 Donnell Rehagen, Clean Fuels (2:54)

advanced biofuels, Audio, aviation biofuels, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, Clean Fuels Alliance, conferences, renewable diesel, SAF

US Ethanol Production Hits Weekly Record

Cindy Zimmerman

Ethanol production hit a record high the week before Thanksgiving, according to the latest Energy Information Administration (EIA) data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association.

(F)or the week ending November 22, ethanol production scaled up 0.8% to 1.12 million b/d, equivalent to 47.00 million gallons daily and a record high. Output was 10.7% more than the same week last year and 9.7% above the five-year average for the week. The four-week average ethanol production rate increased 0.9% to 1.11 million b/d, also a record high, which is equivalent to an annualized rate of 17.09 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks hit an 8-week high of 22.9 million barrels, 7% more than the same week last year and 7.4% above the five-year average. Ethanol exports increased 9.7% to an estimated 158,000 b/d (6.6 million gallons/day), which is an 11-week high.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Happy Thanksgiving Ethanol Report

Cindy Zimmerman

As a record number of travelers are hitting the road this week for Thanksgiving, the ethanol industry is grateful to be able to keep travel more affordable this holiday season and all year long.

While AAA projects a record 71.7 million people will travel by car over Thanksgiving, an analysis by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) indicates that the use of ethanol in the nation’s gasoline is expected to save travelers $217 million just this week.

In this edition of The Ethanol Report, RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper talks about that, as well as reaction to President-elect Trump’s pick for Secretary of Agriculture, what’s left to do this year, optimism for the next Congress, and what might happen in the new administration with EPA tailpipe emissions standards.

Ethanol Report 11-26-24 18:12

The Ethanol Report is a podcast about the latest news and information in the ethanol industry that has been sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association since 2008.

Choose an option to subscribe

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Ethanol Report, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Clean Fuels Elects Governing Board Members

Cindy Zimmerman

Clean Fuels Alliance America members met in Washington D.C. last week to elect new Governing Board members that reflect the interests of both large and small companies, biodiesel and renewable diesel producers, as well as soybean growers and renderers.

The board appointed Kent Engelbrecht to serve as Chair, Rob Shaffer as Vice-Chair, Courtney Lawrenson as Second Vice-Chair, Ryan Pederson as Treasurer, Paul Teta as Secretary, and Mike Rath as Immediate Past Chair.

Clean Fuels chair Kent Engelbrecht (L) and vice chair Rob Shaffer visit Rep. Nikki Budzinski

Clean Fuels members voted to fill eight board seats for two-year terms:

Greg Anderson, Nebraska Soybean Board
Bob Haselwood, Kansas Soybean Commission
Tim Keaveney, HERO BX
Courtney Lawrenson, Ag Processing Inc.
Peter Ostenfeld-Rosenthal, Seaboard Energy LLC
Tim Ostrem, United Soybean Board
Rob Shaffer, American Soybean Association
Paul Teta, Kolmar Americas, Inc.

Continuing to serve on the board for a second year are:

Kent Engelbrecht, ADM
Neville Fernandes, Chevron Renewable Energy Group
Kerry Fogarty, Incobrasa Industries, Ltd.
Chris Hill, Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council
Ryan Pederson, North Dakota Soybean Council
Harry Simpson, Crimson Renewable Energy
Dave Walton, Iowa Soybean Association

Engelbrecht, who is Director of North American Biodiesel Trade Policy at ADM, previously served as chairman of the National Biodiesel Board in 2017. “The clean fuels industry is experiencing remarkable growth as we meet the rising demand for biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel. I look forward to continuing working alongside Clean Fuels Alliance America’s Governing Board, members and staff to support the advancement of these fuels, which generate economic activity and more than 75,000 job opportunities across the country.”

aviation biofuels, Biodiesel, biofuels, Clean Fuels Alliance