Expanding Ethanol Exports

Ethanol has grown into a major U.S. agricultural export according to the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS). U.S. ethanol exports during the 2024/25 marketing year (September 2024–August 2025) hit a record 2.13 billion gallons, surpassing the previous record set a year earlier by 23% (Figure 3). Ethanol exports ten years earlier were just 1.0 billion gallons, meaning exports have more than doubled over the past decade. Canadian purchases fueled the pace last year at 758 million gallons. Canadian demand has grown due to mandates on use of low carbon and renewable fuels. The Netherlands also helped push the export pace, importing 282 million gallons last year, up from 16 million gallons in 2015/16.

The growth has continued this year. The ERS reports exports from October 1 of last year through May 31 of this year are up 11% compared to the same period in the prior year. Another record could be in the offing. The surge has come at the right time as other U.S. agricultural exports, apart from corn, have struggled to expand. It’s also good news for ethanol producers as the expansion of domestic demand has largely stalled. Nebraska facilities, accounting for approximately 14% of the nation’s ethanol output, no doubt enjoy the growing export market.

Figure 3. U.S. Ethanol Exports

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