2023 U.S. ETHANOL EXPORTS
U.S. ethanol exports continued to grow in 2023, hitting 1.43 billion gallons—the third-highest volume on record. American- made ethanol was exported to 83 countries on all six inhabited continents.
Denatured ethanol accounted for 73% of fuel ethanol exports, spurred by shipments to Canada. Exports exceeded 100 million gallons each month in 2023 and closed the year with a particularly strong December, as purchases by other top destinations such as the United Kingdom, European Union, and India accelerated.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Commerce 1
839 910
1,161
1,387 1,675
1,447 1,314
1,232 1,312 1,430
- 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200 1,400 1,600 1,800
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Million Gallons
U.S. Ethanol Exports
- 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Million Gallons
Monthly U.S. Ethanol Exports, by Type
Denatured Fuel Ethanol Undenatured Fuel Ethanol Undenatured Ethanol, Other Denatured Ethanol, Other
2023 U.S. ETHANOL EXPORTS
Export markets were a vital source of demand for the U.S.
ethanol industry, with more than 9% of production shipped to foreign countries—a high share by historical standards.
The value of U.S.
ethanol exports hit a record $3.82 billion in 2023, eclipsing the previous high-water mark set a year earlier, as global fuel prices remained elevated.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Commerce 2
5.9% 6.1%
7.5%
8.7%
10.4%
9.2% 9.4%
8.2% 8.5%
9.2%
0%
1%
2%
3%
4%
5%
6%
7%
8%
9%
10%
11%
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Export Share of Ethanol Production
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
$4,500
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Million Dollars
Value of Ethanol Exports
2023 ETHANOL EXPORTS:
TOP MARKETS
Canada (45%)
United Kingdom
(11%)
European Union (9%)
Philippines (2%) S. Korea
(7%)
Rest of World
(6%)
India (6%) Mexico
(4%)
U.S. Ethanol Export Markets
Change 2022
Total 2023
Total Und.
Other Den.
Other Und.
Fuel Den.
Fuel Country
27%
503.5 638.6
12.4 34.0
1.6 590.6
Canada
140%
66.8 160.1
0.0 0.0
72.9 87.1
United Kingdom
2%
125.3 127.6
12.9 0.4
50.9 63.4
European Union
-39%
153.8 94.6
17.8 7.2
35.0 34.5
South Korea
27%
72.8 92.7
34.9 5.9
24.7 27.2
India
614%
10.3 73.2
7.3 1.7
45.3 18.9
Colombia
-16%
63.3 52.9
22.0 4.6
25.2 1.1
Mexico
34%
38.9 52.3
0.0 4.5
26.0 21.9
Peru
-28%
41.7 30.0
3.8 0.0
20.7 5.5
Philippines
6%
24.2 25.6
0.0 5.3
19.0 1.3
Jamaica
Ethanol export volumes to the top 10 markets in 2023 are shown below. All figures are shown in millions of gallons, unless otherwise noted.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Commerce 3
Peru (4%)
Colombia (5%) Jamaica
(2%)
ETHANOL EXPORT DESTINATIONS
North America was by far the largest regional destination
for U.S. exports in 2023. There were substantial shipments
to the European Union and South America, while those to East Asia receded.
Exports to Canada set a single-year record for any destination.
The United Kingdom became the second- largest market in the aftermath of its
introduction of a 10- percent ethanol blend. However, shipments to Brazil were negligible due to a punitive 16-percent tariff that was in place most of the year.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Dept. of Commerce, Dept. of Agriculture 4
0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200 1,400 1,600 1,800
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Million Gallons
U.S. Ethanol Exports by Region
North America South America East Asia
Southeast Asia South Asia European Union-27 Middle East North Africa All Others
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Million Gallons
Changing U.S. Ethanol Export Markets
Canada UK EU South Korea Brazil
Net exports of ethanol were the second highest ever in 2023, as exports rose and imports fell. The U.S.
was a net exporter for the 14th straight year.
More than half of U.S.
ethanol exports
departed via the Gulf of Mexico. Shipments via Detroit increased significantly as a gateway to Canada.
Volumes were also shipped from the Pacific Northwest, Northern Tier and East Coast.
5 755 817
1,127 1,311
1,597
1,247
1,136 1,173 1,233 1,409
0 300 600 900 1,200 1,500 1,800
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Million Gallons
U.S. Net Ethanol Exports Top Ports/Districts of Exit for Ethanol Exports
Houston / Galveston
(40%)
New Orleans
(14%)
New York Detroit (2%)
(20%) Pembina, ND(10%)
Duluth (3%)
Laredo(1%)
Savannah (1%)
2023 NET EXPORTS AND HUBS
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Commerce Great Falls, MT
(2%) Seattle
(6%)
2023 U.S. ETHANOL IMPORTS
U.S. imports of fuel ethanol fell to 21 million gallons in 2023, the lowest level in more than a
decade.
Virtually all fuel ethanol imports continued to come
from Brazil, the second-largest producer in the world, behind only the U.S.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Commerce 84 93
34
77 78
200 177
58 79
- 21 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 20222023
Million Gallons
U.S. Fuel Ethanol Imports
10.5
6.8
3.3
0 5 10 15
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Million Gallons
Monthly U.S. Ethanol Imports
6
2023 U.S. ETHANOL IMPORTS
Ethanol enhanced America’s energy security, as imports accounted for a negligible share of U.S. ethanol
consumption in 2023.
Top Ports of Entry for Ethanol Imports
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Commerce San Francisco
(51%) California received
half of the fuel ethanol imported into the U.S. in 2023, due to favorable treatment under the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard.
Significant volumes also were imported into the Northeast.
0.6% 0.7%
0.2%
0.5% 0.5%
1.4% 1.4%
0.4%
0.6%
0.0% 0.1%
0.2%
0.4%
0.6%
0.8%
1.0%
1.2%
1.4%
1.6%
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Ethanol Imports:
Share of Total U.S. Ethanol Usage
7 New York
(27%)
Providence (21%)
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 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 14% of the 2023 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, Department of Commerce
This report was prepared by Scott Richman, who may be contacted at [email protected] 636.594.2284.
The Renewable Fuels Association publishes monthly summaries of export and import data for ethanol and distillers dried grains in its Trade Monitor.
Copyright © 2024 Renewable Fuels Association. All Rights Reserved
8
Copyright © 2024 Renewable Fuels Association. All Rights Reserved
