2018 U.S. ETHANOL EXPORTS

The U.S. exported 1.70

billion gallons of ethanol

in 2018—up 24% from

2017 and the highest annual

volume on record.

American-made ethanol was

exported to more than 80

countries on all six

inhabited continents around

the world.

Undenatured ethanol for fuel

use accounted for 51% of

total exports in 2018.

Denatured ethanol for fuel use

made up 43%. Meanwhile,

denatured and undenatured

ethanol for non-fuel industrial

uses accounted for the

remaining 6%.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Commerce, and Department of Agriculture 1

158 113

396

1,193

732

617

839910

1,169

1,367

1,705

-

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1,800

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Mil

lion

Gall

ons

Annual U.S. Ethanol Exports

-

50

100

150

200

250

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Mil

lion

Gall

ons

2018 Monthly Ethanol Exports, by Type

Denatured Fuel Ethanol Undenatured Fuel Ethanol

Undenatured Ethanol, Other Denatured Ethanol, Other

2018 U.S. ETHANOL EXPORTS

Exports surged to a

record 10.6% of total

U.S. ethanol production in

2018. More than one out

of every 10 gallons

produced was exported.

U.S. ethanol exports were

valued at $2.75 billion in

2018, up 15% from 2017 and

the second-highest on record.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Commerce, and Department of Agriculture2

1.7%1.0%

3.0%

8.6%

5.5%

4.6%

5.9% 6.1%

7.6%

8.7%

10.6%

0%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

6%

7%

8%

9%

10%

11%

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Export Share of U.S. Ethanol Production

$0

$500

$1,000

$1,500

$2,000

$2,500

$3,000

$3,500

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Mil

lion

Dol

lars

(U

.S.)

Value of U.S. Ethanol Exports

2018 ETHANOL EXPORTS: TOP MARKETS

Canada

(20%)

Brazil

(30%)

Colombia (2%)

Netherlands (5%)

Philippines (4%)

S. Korea (5%)Rest of

World

(13%)

India

(9%)

UAE

(4%)

Top Markets for U.S. Ethanol Exports in 2018

Country Den. Fuel Und. Fuel Den. Other Und. Other 2018 Total 2017 Total Change

Brazil 21.9 491.2 0.0 0.1 513.1 428.1 +20%

Canada 317.9 1.2 30.0 0.1 349.2 326.3 +7%

India 22.1 118.8 15.9 0.1 156.8 182.5 -14%

South Korea 50.9 26.6 3.5 6.8 87.8 48.5 +81%

Netherlands 38.7 44.9 0.0 - 83.6 34.9 +139%

Philippines 23.5 48.9 0.0 - 72.4 61.4 +18%

U. Arab Emir 48.6 19.4 0.0 0.7 68.7 39.5 +74%

China 39.1 13.8 0.0 0.0 52.9 47.0 +12%

Peru 43.7 8.4 0.0 0.0 52.2 42.5 +23%

Colombia 39.1 5.1 0.1 1.9 46.1 17.3 +166%

2018 ethanol export volumes to the Top 10 markets are shown in the table below, along with a comparison to 2017 volumes. All

figures shown in millions of gallons, unless otherwise noted.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Commerce, and Department of Agriculture 3

Peru

(3%)

China (3%)

U.S. ETHANOL EXPORTS: SHIFTING MARKETS

Exports to South America

continued their strong

expansion in 2018, led by

Brazil. Exports to East Asia

rose, with South Korea the

largest destination. Exports to

North America, primarily

Canada, continued to exhibit

slow-but-steady growth.

Exports to Brazil continued

strong growth in 2018. While

China returned as an export

destination early in 2018, the

imposition of high import

duties caused shipments to

cease. Ethanol exports to the

EU grew but have not

recovered after collapsing in

2013 due to the imposition of

duties.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Commerce, and Department of Agriculture4

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1,800

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Mil

lion

Gall

ons

U.S. Exports by Region

North Africa

Middle East

EU-28

South Asia

Southeast Asia

East Asia

South America

North America

All Others

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Mil

lion

Gall

ons

Volatility in Major U.S. Ethanol Export Markets

Brazil India China EU-28

The U.S. set a new

record for net

exports in 2018,

surging past the

level from 2017.

The U.S. extended

its streak as a net

exporter of ethanol

to nine years. NET EXPORTS

NET IMPORTS

Nearly three-quarters of U.S.

ethanol exports departed

through the Gulf in 2018, up

from two-thirds in 2017.

Meanwhile, over 10% of

exports went through Great

Lakes ports, 6% went through

Pembina (ND), 4% went out of

the Pacific-Northwest, and 2%

exited through New York

Harbor.

5

38383

378

997

177 217

755817

1,136

1,291

1,627

400

100

600

1,100

1,600

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Mil

lion

Gall

ons

Annual U.S. Net Ethanol Exports

Top Ports of Exit for 2018 U.S. Ethanol Exports

Houston/Galveston, 41%

New Orleans, 21%

New York, 2%Detroit, 9%

Pembina (ND), 6%

Duluth, 2%

Milwaukee, 1%

Columbia/Portland, 4%

TOP EXPORT HUBS AND NET EXPORTS

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Dept. of Commerce, Dept. of Agriculture, and U.S. International Trade Commission

Port Arthur, 11%

Providence, 1%

2018 U.S. ETHANOL IMPORTS

The U.S. imported just 78

million gallons of fuel

ethanol in 2018, virtually the

same amount as in 2017. U.S.

ethanol imports have

centered around 70 million

gallons annually over the

past four years, considerably

less than levels that occurred

5-10 years ago.

Approximately 98% of

2018 fuel ethanol imports

came from Brazil. Nearly

all of the ethanol imports

occurred during the

August-December

timeframe.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Commerce, and Department of Agriculture

541

196

18

196

555

400

84 93 3477 78

-

100

200

300

400

500

600

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Mil

lion

Gall

ons

Annual U.S. Fuel Ethanol Imports

1.6

21.6

2.2

31.6

9.9 10.7

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Mil

lion

Gall

ons

2018 Monthly Ethanol Imports

6

2018 U.S. ETHANOL IMPORTS

Imports accounted for less

than 1% of U.S. ethanol

consumption for the fifth year

in a row. Ethanol import reliance

is down dramatically from the

2005-2008 timeframe, when

imports typically accounted for

5-10% of U.S. consumption.

Top Ports of Entry for 2018 U.S. Ethanol Imports

Miami, 2%

Los Angeles, 23%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Dept. of Commerce, Dept. of Agriculture, and U.S. International Trade Commission

San Francisco, 75%

California ports received 98%

of U.S. fuel ethanol imports in

2018, driven by the state’s Low

Carbon Fuel Standard. Miami

was the only other significant

port of entry for fuel ethanol.

6.8%

1.9%

0.1%

1.6%

4.3%

3.1%

0.6%0.7%

0.2%0.5% 0.5%

0%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

6%

7%

8%

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

U.S. Ethanol Imports:

Share of Total U.S. Ethanol Consumption

7

ABOUT THE DATA IN THIS REPORT

U.S. Ethanol Export Data

• The export data in this report includes exports classified under the following Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) codes:

• 2207200010: Ethyl alcohol and other spirits, denatured, of any strength: For fuel use

• 2207106010: Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of 80 percent vol. or higher: For

non-beverage purposes: For fuel use

• 2207200090: Ethyl alcohol and other spirits, denatured, of any strength: Other

• 2207106090: Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of 80 percent vol. or higher: For

non-beverage purposes: Other

• 2207200090 and 2207106090 are included in this report because there is some anecdotal evidence that exports of

ethanol intended for fuel use are sometimes classified under these codes. In any case, ethanol classified under these

codes represented just 5% of the 2017 U.S. exports discussed in this report.

U.S. Ethanol Import Data

• The import data in this report includes imports classified under the following Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) codes:

• 2207200010: Ethyl alcohol and other spirits, denatured, of any strength: For fuel use

• 2207106010: Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of 80 percent vol. or higher: For

non-beverage purposes: For fuel use

Sources

• All data in this report comes from the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of Agriculture,

U.S. International Trade Commission, and U.S. Energy Information Administration

The Renewable Fuels Association publishes monthly summaries of export and import data for

ethanol and distillers dried grains on its award-winning E-Blog.

This report was prepared by Scott Richman, who may be contacted at srichman@ethanolrfa.org or 636.594.2287.

Copyright © 2019 Renewable Fuels Association. All Rights Reserved8

Copyright © 2019 Renewable Fuels Association. All Rights Reserved

Renewable Fuels Association16024 Manchester Road

Suite 101

Ellisville, MO 63011

636.594.2287

www.EthanolRFA.org