Export Exchange Highlights US Grain Trade Potential

Cindy Zimmerman

Export Exchange 2022 had a full day of sessions and networking on Thursday in Minneapolis.

The first general session featured Minnesota Ag Commissioner Thom Petersen and USDA Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Ag Relations Jason Hafemeister.

Petersen spoke about the importance of global trade at the state level, noting how Minnesota established an office in Taiwan that recently helped secure the sale of $2.7 billion in corn and soy products to that country. “We’ve built some great relationships, we had some delegations here over the past few weeks, Peru, Colombia, the Philippines,” he said. “I think that’s really opened up doors and I can see the value of these discussions around trade.”

Listen to his remarks here:
Export Exchange - Thom Petersen, MN Commissioner of Agriculture 14:20

Hafemeister spoke of the how innovations have increased crop yields and how the global trade map has shifted over the last several decades. He also noted the positive trends for exports of both ethanol and the feed co-product DDGS.

“The has been a good year for ethanol. Just in the first six months we are closing in on our 2021 export level,” said Hafemeister. As for DDGS, he says, “We are the world champion supplier. If you’re looking for DDGS, this is the market to come to and we’re a little above schedule (on exports) from last year.”

Listen to Hafemeister’s remarks here:
Export Exchange - Jason Hafemeister, USDA 31:35

Export Exchange, which is co-sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association, offers international attendees the opportunity to meet and build relationships with domestic suppliers of corn, distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), sorghum, barley and other commodities. The biannual event ends today and the next one will be in 2024.

2022 Export Exchange Photo Album

Audio, Ethanol, Export Exchange, Exports, Grains, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Marketing High Protein DDGS to Export Markets

Cindy Zimmerman

High protein distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) is in high demand in some parts of the world and ACE Ethanol is meeting up with potential customers this week at the 2022 Export Exchange in Minneapolis.

“We actually have a cellulosic ethanol process and the result of that process is a higher protein distillers grain that’s about 38-40 percent protein,” said Neal Kemmet, President and General Manager of Ace Ethanol in Stanley, Wisconsin and Fox River Valley Ethanol in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. “We’re seeing a lot of interest in Asia specifically but also some interest in Mexico. There’s just an amazing amount of traffic flow at the booth.”

Kemmet is a board member of the Renewable Fuels Association which has co-sponsored the Export Exchange since it first began under that name in 2010.

Listen to Neal’s interview here.
Export Exchange interview with Neal Kemmet, ACE Ethanol 2:24

2022 Export Exchange Photo Album

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Export Exchange by the Numbers

Cindy Zimmerman

RFA team in foreground greets Export Exchange attendees

The first Export Exchange since 2018 is underway in Minneapolis this week and organizers are pleased with the turnout.

“We have about 490 registrations as of right now,” said U.S. Grains Council Director of Industry Relations Ellen Zimmerman during the welcome reception Wednesday night. On site registration was busy so they expect to easily surpass the 500 they expected.

“We have five general sessions, about 20 speakers, 32 exhibits, 34 sponsors, 51 countries represented,” she said. “We have just as much time built in for networking breaks.”

The sessions will focus on timely topics related to exports of U.S. corn, sorghum, barley, and the ethanol co-product distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS). But the networking is where the business of the Exchange gets done. Reported sales associated with Export Exchange 2018 included approximately 1.3 million metric tons of grains and co-products worth $403 million traded either at the conference or immediately before or after. The event is co-sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA).

Learn more in this interview with Zimmerman.
Export Exchange interview with Ellen Zimmerman, USGC 3:24

2022 Export Exchange Photo Album

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Smaller Corn Crop, Less Bushels for Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. corn production took another step down this month compared to September 2022, according to USDA’s latest Crop Production report.

Based on conditions as of Oct. 1, corn yields are now expected to average 171.9 bushels per harvested acre, down 0.6 bushel from the previous forecast and down 4.8 bushels from 2021. Area harvested for grain is forecast at 80.8 million acres, unchanged from the previous forecast. Corn production is down 8% from last year, forecast at 13.9 billion bushels.

USDA’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates for this month’s 2022/23 U.S. corn outlook is for reduced supplies, greater feed and residual use, lower exports and corn used for ethanol, and smaller ending stocks.

Corn supplies are forecast at 15.322 billion bushels, a decline of 172 million bushels from last month, as lower production and beginning stocks are partially offset by higher imports. Exports are lowered 125 million bushels reflecting smaller supplies and slow early-season demand. Projected feed and residual use is raised 50 million bushels based on indicated disappearance during 2021/22. Corn used for ethanol is lowered 50 million bushels. With supply falling more than use, corn ending stocks for 2022/23 are cut 47 million bushels.

corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, USDA

ACE Ethanol Today Magazine Celebrates 20 Years

Cindy Zimmerman

The bimonthly industry trade magazine Ethanol Today, published by the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), has issued its lineup of editorial themes and advertising opportunities for 2023 to celebrate the publication providing timely, in-depth information about the people, policies and issues that drive ethanol in America for two decades.

“At ACE, we’re grateful to be celebrating our twentieth year of delivering information to enlighten our members, the broader industry, and legislators on Capitol Hill through Ethanol Today magazine,” said Katie Muckenhirn, ACE Vice President of Public Affairs. “Equipped with insight from our well-informed advisory board of ethanol industry representatives, we look forward to covering the latest trends and industry news in the year ahead.”

Muckenhirn adds that Ethanol Today not only circulates among all ACE members, but also makes its way to every U.S. ethanol plant and Capitol Hill offices of each member of Congress.

ACE, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Export Exchange is Underway in Minneapolis

Cindy Zimmerman

The 2022 Export Exchange welcomed hundreds of buyers and sellers of U.S. coarse grains and co-products to Minneapolis Wednesday evening for a reception prior to the official kickoff of the event Thursday.

“It’s looking great,” said Chad Willis, a farmer from Minnesota and past chair of the U.S. Grains Council (USGC). “After COVID, everybody wanted to get out and be in person again so our attendance is phenomenal.”

It was 2018 when the Export Exchange was last held and being a biennial event, missing 2020 due to the pandemic means four years have gone by since international buyers have been able to visit and meeting grain suppliers face to face. “What I’ve noticed is how important it is for these countries to know where their grain comes from,” said Willis. “A lot of buyers from overseas have been here the last few days and some will be staying on and going on tours of farms, ethanol plants, elevators, ports.”

Listen to an interview with Willis here.
Export Exchange interview with Chad Willis, MN farmer 3:16

2022 Export Exchange Photo Album

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Registration Opens for 2023 National Ethanol Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

Registration is now open for the Renewable Fuels Association’s 28th annual National Ethanol Conference, to be held in Orlando from February 28 to March 2.

The 2023 event theme is “Ready. Set. Go!” reflecting the U.S. ethanol industry’s momentum moving forward into new markets and opportunities. The NEC is the nation’s most widely attended executive-level conference for the ethanol industry with sessions on vital industry topics featuring top speakers interspersed with numerous networking opportunities to help the industry connect and collaborate.

Early bird registration provides substantial discounts until Nov. 30. For more information and to register, visit www.NationalEthanolConference.com.

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

MN Bio-Fuels Wraps Up E15 Promotional Campaign

Cindy Zimmerman

The Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association (MN Bio-Fuels) has just wrapped up a successful five-month E15 promotional campaign in the Twin Cities metro area aimed at rewarding drivers for fueling up with 15% ethanol fuel.

“As fuel prices strained consumers’ pocket books this summer, our promotional events with KS95 provided us with a unique opportunity to educate drivers about how they could save money by fueling up with E15,” said Brian Werner, executive director at MN Bio-Fuels. “With prices again on the rise, E15 remains a cost-saving option for Minnesota drivers at gas stations all around the state.”

MN Bio-Fuels worked with radio station KS95 to promoted E15 at 12 different gas stations in the Twin Cities metro area over five months and handed out prizes to drivers who purchased E15, such as $20 in cash, tickets to the Minnesota Twins and other sporting events, gift cards to Applebee’s, and more.

According to the Minnesota Department of Commerce, 66.42 million gallons of E15 was sold in Minnesota from January to August this year, 19 percent higher than the volume recorded over the same period last year (55.78 million gallons).

E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Hundreds of Grain Buyers Expected at Export Exchange

Cindy Zimmerman

More than 200 international customers from 50 countries and nearly 300 domestic suppliers of grains and co-products, including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), are arriving in Minneapolis this week for Export Exchange 2022, the first time the event has been held since 2018.

The event is co-sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association and RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper says they have a great program lined up. “This event is important not only for its networking and sales opportunities, but also as an educational opportunity for participants to learn more about the high quality and value of U.S. farm and biorefinery products, as is clearly shown by the reach of our exports. American-made distiller’s grains were exported to more than 50 countries on six continents in 2021.”

Export Exchange facilitates meetings between the international buyers and U.S. suppliers so prospective customers can ask questions about this year’s U.S. corn crop and suppliers can explain the benefits of the world’s greatest agricultural supply chain. In addition, more than 20 pre- and post-Export Exchange tours have been arranged through the U.S. Grains Council for trade teams from around the world to visit various corn-growing states to get a firsthand look at corn harvest, stopping by ethanol plants to see DDGS production, exploring port facilities and more.

“At a time when international trade should be championed by our country’s leaders, Export Exchange is critical for our industry,” said Ryan LeGrand, USGC president and CEO. “It is essential for us to strengthen the bonds between suppliers and partner countries, and the connections made will not only help propel our industry this year, but for years to come.”

Get a preview of what is happening later this week in Minneapolis in this recent podcast featuring LeGrand and RFA’s Kelly Davis.

Ethanol Report previews Export Exchange (15:11)

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Honeywell Announces New Ethanol-to-Jet Fuel Technology

Cindy Zimmerman

Honeywell has announced an innovative ethanol-to-jet fuel (ETJ) processing technology that allows producers to convert corn-based, cellulosic, or sugar-based ethanol into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Demand for SAF continues to grow, yet the aviation industry is challenged by limited supplies of traditional SAF feedstocks such as vegetable oils, animal fats and waste oils. Ethanol offers producers a widely available, economically viable feedstock. Honeywell’s ready now technology uses high-performance catalysts and heat management capabilities to maximize production efficiency, resulting in a cost-effective, lower carbon intensity aviation fuel.

A 2021 life-cycle analysis by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory concluded that ethanol-to-jet fuel conversion, combined with other technologies such as carbon capture and sequestration (CCUS) and smart farming practices, can result in negative GHG emissions compared to petroleum-based jet fuel.

“Honeywell pioneered SAF production with its Ecofining™ technology, and our new ethanol-to-jet fuel process builds on that original innovation to support the global aviation sector’s efforts to reduce GHG emissions and meet SAF production targets with an abundant feedstock like ethanol,” said Barry Glickman, vice president and general manager, Honeywell Sustainable Technology Solutions. “Honeywell’s ethanol- to-jet process, when used as a standalone or when coupled with Honeywell carbon capture technology, is ready now to provide a pathway to lower carbon-intensity SAF.”

Read more from Honeywell

aviation biofuels, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News