Record sales to key markets propel August US bioethanol exports

US ethanol exports surged to 188.8 million gallons (mg) in August, vaulting 15% above July and running 24% ahead of year-ago levels.
Momentum was anchored by record-setting shipments to Canada and the European Union, which together absorbed nearly two-thirds of total volumes.
Canada climbed 11% to 74.4 mg, remaining the top outlet and capturing 73% of all denatured fuel ethanol sold, while exports to the European Union skyrocketed 65% to 47.6 mg — almost entirely routed through the Netherlands, the principal destination for undenatured fuel ethanol.
Beyond these markets, trade flows shifted sharply: Colombia climbed 43% to 14.1 mg to become the second-largest buyer of denatured product; India rebounded from 0.5 mg to 13.6 mg; the United Kingdom slid 50% to 10.6 mg; the Philippines eased 16% to 8.0 mg; Mexico jumped 35% to 6.7 mg; Jamaica leapt ninefold to 4.4 mg; South Korea held nearly steady at 3.8 mg; and Peru tumbled 56% to 3.7 mg.
Brazil was notably absent from the market after taking 9.2 mg in July. Year-to-date USethanol exports reached 1.42 billion gallons, tracking 16% above the same period in 2024.
The US did not record any imports of foreign ethanol in August. Total imports for the first half of the year stand at 3.5 mg.
US exports of dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS), the animal feed co-product generated by dry-mill ethanol plants, rose 10% to 1.17 million metric tons (mt), marking multi-month highs across major destinations and record shipments to Colombia, Honduras, and New Zealand.
Mexico, the largest buyer, strengthened purchases by 13% to 206,787 mt; South Korea softened 8% to 145,014 mt; Vietnam increased 9% to 120,743 mt; and Colombia grew 9% to 101,207 mt, with these four markets together accounting for half of all exports.
Other notable markets included Indonesia, up 20% to 70,520 mt; New Zealand, rising from zero to 69,867 mt; and Canada, up 10% to 69,137 mt. Year-to-date DDGS exports totaled 7.64 million mt, trailing last year’s pace by 4%.