Roughly 11 percent of U.S. corn ethanol was exported in 2018, a record 1.7 billion gallons worth $2.7 billion, said ethanol trade groups on Wednesday. Exports were nearly 25-percent higher than the previous record of 1.4 billion gallons, set in the preceding year, said the groups, which used USDA data to tally the shipments.
Brazil was the leading customer, receiving 513 million gallons, followed by Canada with nearly 350 million gallons. “The global appetite for ethanol has never been higher,” said Emily Skor of the trade group Growth Energy. The Renewable Fuels Association said exports grew despite “punitive trade barriers” in some countries.