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Despite facing regulatory and marketplace challenges in 2018, the ethanol industry continued to make a “remarkable contribution” to the nation’s economy, according to the latest analysis released last week at the Renewable Fuels Association’s (RFA) 24th annual National Ethanol Conference. The analysis, conducted by ABF Economics on behalf of RFA, found the industry supported nearly 366,000 jobs and generated nearly $46 billion in gross domestic product in 2018.

According to the analysis, the production and use of 16.1 billion gallons of ethanol in 2018:

Supported more than 71,000 direct jobs and almost 295,000 indirect and induced jobs across all sectors of the economy;
Added nearly $25 billion in income for American households;
Generated an estimated $4.8 billion in tax revenue to the Federal Treasury and $4 billion in revenue to state and local governments;
Supported more than 16,200 jobs and $6.3 billion in GDP through exports alone; and
Displaced an amount of gasoline refined from roughly 550 million barrels of imported crude oil

The analysis also estimated the impact of the ethanol industry on the state economy in top ethanol-producing states. Iowa, Nebraska, and Illinois were the top three states in terms of economic impacts, but states like Ohio, Kansas, Michigan, Texas, Missouri, California, and New York also benefited from ethanol plants’ contributions.

Last week’s National Ethanol Conference featured many speakers and sessions on the current state of the ethanol industry as well as the potential opportunities for future growth. Photos, audio and video from the conference can be found here:
National Ethanol Conference Virtual Newsroom

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) released its 2019 Ethanol Industry Outlook and Pocket Guide this week at the 24th annual National Ethanol Conference in Orlando.

The annual Outlook publication provides policymakers, regulators, consumers, the media, and renewable fuel advocates with key statistics, trends, insight, and analysis on the latest developments in the U.S. renewable fuels industry, as well as commentary on what to expect in 2019. The publication also features a detailed listing of every fuel ethanol plant in the country, along with production capacity.

The Pocket Guide to Ethanol contains much of the same information as the Outlook, but in an abbreviated format and smaller size.

“For 18 years, RFA’s annual Outlook publication has served as the ‘Ethanol Bible,’ full of the facts, figures, and analysis that inform our advocacy and outreach efforts,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “This year’s Outlook is especially useful in offering insight into the impacts of small refiner exemptions and trade wars on our markets in 2018, but also highlights the good news of expanded retail offerings of E15 and flex fuels, record ethanol exports, and ethanol’s incredible impact on job creation and the economy.”

Cooper will be giving his first State of the Ethanol Industry address as RFA President and CEO today at 8:30 am Eastern. The address will be streamed live on the RFA Facebook page and posted here afterwards.s

Click on links for on-line copies of the 2019 Ethanol Industry Outlook and Pocket Guide to Ethanol copies.