The European Union (EU) was the fourth-largest export market for U.S. ethanol in marketing year (MY) 2023/2024, with more than 140 million gallons sold, but regional policies have made it difficult to rapidly increase that figure over time.
To build relationships with EU policymakers and industry leaders and better understand the market dynamics on the continent, U.S. Grains Council (USGC) Regional Ethanol Manager for the EU, United Kingdom (UK) and Canada Stephanie Larson traveled to Brussels, Belgium recently to participate in the World Ethanol and Biofuels Conference (WEBC).
“The EU is a particularly complex market because of a variety of regulatory factors and consumer preferences, but its status as a developed region, coupled with persistent ethanol shortages, means there is still room to grow U.S. exports there as the EU strives to meet internal ethanol demand. In addition, the E10 wave in Europe has yet to reach all of the Member States, implying potential for further growth as more EU Members increase their usage and uptake of ethanol,” Larson said.
At the WEBC, Larson served as a panelist to discuss policy challenges in advancing renewable ethanol for sustainable decarbonization in the EU alongside Dr. Berit Foss, director of sustainability at POET, a Council member. She also attended sessions on global decarbonization goals, the role of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in reducing emissions in the transportation sector and opportunities and challenges for biofuel growth within the EU’s regulatory framework.
Larson wrapped up her trip with a series of meetings involving DG Mobility and Transport of the European Commission, which coordinates the Renewable Low Carbon Fuels (RLCF) Alliance, an entity of which the Council is a member. In addition, she met with two parliamentary assistants, both of whom were keen to learn more about the USGC’s products and the potential environmental benefits of bioethanol for the transport sector.
“My conversations with political leaders and Council counterparts at WEBC has been informative and will help shape the Council’s ethanol promotion strategy going forward,” Larson said.
Learn more about the Council’s work in ethanol here.
About The U.S. Grains Council
The U.S. Grains Council develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol. With full-time presence in 28 locations, the Council operates programs in more than 50 countries and the European Union. The Council believes exports are vital to global economic development and to U.S. agriculture’s profitability. Detailed information about the Council and its programs is online at www.grains.org.