This week’s U.S. Grains Council’s (USGC’s) Chart of Note illustrates that the volume of ethanol exports for September are up 6 percent from the previous year – particularly welcomed news since last year’s total ethanol exports of 870 million gallons were the second largest on record for quantity sold.

These numbers highlight the growing importance of the ethanol export promotion efforts being undertaken around the world by the Council and partners Growth Energy, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

The September trade data from the USDA’s Global Agricultural Trade System (GATS) estimates that roughly 60 million gallons of U.S. ethanol valued at almost $130 million were exported in September.

Canada remained the top market, purchasing 26 million gallons of U.S. ethanol valued at $66 million.

But the real story is with the second and third largest markets, India and Korea. Exports to India totaled 14.3 million gallons and were valued at $25 million, up 412 percent from a year ago. Exports to Korea totaled 8.5 million gallons valued at $19 million, up 700 percent. Both of these markets are industrial ethanol markets, not fuel ethanol.

Another major market showing significant gains was Mexico, which purchased 2.7 million gallons of U.S. exports, up 35 percent.

Click here to read past Global Update stories about ongoing ethanol export promotion program activities.