Record year for US ethanol exports in 2024

The country surpassed the previous high of 1.67 billion gallons in 2018 with 1.72 billion gallons shipped overseas in the first 11 months of the year.

U.S. ethanol exports reached a new record in 2024, with 1.72 billion gallons shipped overseas in the first 11 months of the year.

This number has surpassed the previous high of 1.67 billion gallons set in 2018, according to the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). With one month remaining, exports are on track to approach 1.9 billion gallons for the full year, representing 12% of U.S. ethanol production, another milestone.

“This record not only reflects growing global demand for sustainable energy but also underscores how vital trade is in strengthening the U.S. energy sector, fostering innovation, and supporting economic growth. Today, one out of every eight gallons of ethanol produced in the U.S. is exported, helping to lower fuel costs and improve air quality in more than 75 countries,” said Geoff Cooper, RFA President and CEO.

Despite trade barriers in major markets like Brazil and China, which still impose restrictions on U.S. ethanol, exports surged. 

Cooper stressed the importance of maintaining access to global markets for both renewable fuel and co-products, such as distillers grains, and urged efforts to break down trade barriers moving forward. 

Canada led as the top destination for U.S. ethanol, receiving more than one-third of total exports, with shipments nearing 600 million gallons by November. Other key markets included the United Kingdom, India, the European Union, and Colombia.