US ethanol exports hit 138.0 million US gallons (≈ 522.38 million litres) in February, the third-highest monthly volume on record, according to recently released government data and analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). The February total trails only November 2011 (152.5 million gallons, ≈ 577.27 million litres) and December 2011 (172.7 million gallons, ≈ 653.74 million litres).
According to the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), US ethanol exports hit 138.0 million gallons (US mg, ≈522.38 million litres) in February, the third-highest monthly volume on record, according to recently released US government data and analyzed by the RFA. The February total trails only November 2011 (152.5 mg, ≈577.27 million litres) and December 2011 (172.7 mg, ≈653.74 million litres).
Brazil was again the top customer, taking in more than one-third of all US ethanol exports (50.8 mg, ≈192.29 million litres or 37 percent) but 14 percent less than record shipments to Brazil in January. Canada also decreased its purchases in February with 24.7 mg (≈93.49 million litres or 18 percent of total exports) entering the country.
Sales to India, however, nearly doubled from the prior month, increasing from 13.2 mg to 24.3 mg (≈49.96 to 91.98 million litres). The United Arab Emirates (UAE) (10.1 mg, ≈38.23 million litres) and the Philippines (7.0 mg, ≈26.49 million litres) were other significant importers in February. Year-to-date exports stood at 259.8 mg (≈983.45 million litres), up nearly 70 percent from the year-ago total of 154.1 mg (≈583.33 million litres).
Exports of US undenatured fuel ethanol rose by 14 percent over January to a record volume of 106.3 million gallons (≈402.38 million litres) —nearly double the quantity shipped two months prior. About half of the undenatured product (50.8 mg, ≈192.29 million litres) went to Brazil.
India received a quarter of US undenatured fuel ethanol (24.2 mg, ≈91.6 million litres), up 118 percent from its January intake. The UAE (10.1 mg, ≈38.23 million litres) and Philippines (7.0 mg, ≈26.49 million litres) rounded out top markets for undenatured fuel ethanol.
Denatured fuel ethanol exports in February experienced a slight uptick, rising 1 percent to 26.7 mg (≈101.07 million litres). Canada and Peru again accounted for the bulk of the market, receiving 23.6 mg (≈89.33 million litres, 88 percent) and 3.0 mg (≈11.35 million litres, 11 percent), respectively.
US fuel ethanol imports continued to languish with only marginal volumes of foreign-produced fuel ethanol entering the US. In February, South Africa shipped 22 714 gallons to the US, up 3 percent from January. As a result, total ethanol imports so far this year are less than 50,000 gallons but remain 13 percent higher than this point a year ago.
Co-products export
Exports of distillers grains—the animal feed co-product generated by dry mill ethanol plants—hit 1.07 million tonnes in February, the highest monthly total in six months and up 14 percent over January. Mexico expanded its purchases by 36 percent to 241 249 tonnes (23 percent of total US exports), firmly holding on to its status as the top DDGS destination for a third straight month.
Similarly, the Turkish market has been expanding, with a 21 percent increase in DDGS exports in February to 152 537 tonnes (14 percent). Thailand (71 838 tonnes), China (64 534 tonnes), Japan (62 562 tonnes), Indonesia (58 934 tonnes), and Spain (58 263 tonnes) were other top markets, and together with Mexico and Turkey, accounted for two-thirds of February exports. The remaining one-third of DDGS was distributed to 29 countries around the globe. Year-to-date exports stood at 2.01 million tonnes.
