Data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed that the United States imported 96,000 bpd of fuel ethanol in 2019 fell by 14% from a year earlier and marked the first annual decline in exports since 2015. This decrease came despite the increasing number of export destinations from 34 in 2018 to 39 in 2019.
Brazil and Canada received nearly 50% of US ethanol shipments last year. However, their ethanol imports from the US declined by 34% and 5%, respectively. Brazil imported 22,000 bpd of US fuel ethanol in 2019, decreasing for the first time since 2015. Brazil is also a major ethanol producer, with peak output from May through October during the sugarcane harvest period. Brazil imports fuel ethanol between the seasons and exports it, including to the US during the harvest period.
Canada remained the second-largest export market for US ethanol, receiving nearly 22,000 bpd last year. The third-largest destination for US ethanol in 2019 was India, followed by South Korea and Colombia.
