On May 8, 2025, the US announced the first country-specific trade deal from among the many that are currently under negotiation. Details have yet to be finalized but one provision to be included is tariff-free quotas for ethanol imports into the UK from the US.

The US is the world’s largest ethanol exporter. In 2024, shipments hit a new high of 5.9 million tons, up 35% from 2023. Latest data shows shipments through April 2025 of 2.1 million tons, up 8%. Further gains are anticipated from the USDA’s projection of a record corn crop for 2025.

Canada, India, the Netherlands and UK continued as the US’s top destinations through April, Canada taking 31% of total and India, Netherlands and UK each between 9%-12%.

US exports have increased because of relatively low prices, bio-fuel mandates, including for Canada, India, the EU and Colombia, and demand for low-carbon fuels in many countries .

From International Trader Publications’ Ethanol World Trade Analysis, a continuously updated analysis of global trade flows developed from latest trade statistics from all available countries.