USGC Brings Trade Teams To National Ethanol Conference, LeGrand Discusses Ethanol Export Market Developments

Last week, the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) escorted a delegation of more than 20 energy sector stakeholders and government officials to the 30th National Ethanol Conference (NEC), held in Nashville, TN, and USGC President and CEO Ryan LeGrand was featured in a discussion on global ethanol markets.

The NEC is held by the Renewable Fuels Association, a USGC partner, and is an industry leader in offering biofuel business development, networking and policy updates to attendees.

Council staff based in its Mexico City and Panama City offices organized groups of attendees from their respective regions to connect them with U.S. ethanol producers and help them learn about ethanol’s many benefits, from lowering costs for consumers to its positive impact on environmental and human health.

“This event is really a one-stop shop for the Council’s international participants to build business connections, get a more detailed look at energy policies in the U.S. and see how other uses for ethanol can benefit their regions,” LeGrand said.

Speakers covered a range of topics including the history of biofuel development and implementation in the U.S., upcoming policy changes that may affect the industry and ethanol’s position in the industrial and aviation spaces. LeGrand featured in the final panel discussion of the event and touched on the vital importance of exports to the U.S. ethanol industry while highlighting anticipated developments in international markets in the coming months and years.

Following the conference, the Council’s team visited the headquarters of Eco-Energy, a USGC member, to gain insights into ethanol production in the United States. The group also toured an ethanol fuel terminal, where they had the opportunity to observe firsthand the logistics of ethanol distribution.

“Many in the Council’s delegation are from countries like Colombia and Peru that are strong customers for U.S. ethanol and are considering expanding their usage of biofuels in gasoline and other areas,” LeGrand said.

“There is no better way to advocate for ethanol use than to simply show customers that biofuels are affordable, available and effective in helping countries meet their climate goals.”

In addition to ethanol market opportunities in Latin America, the Mexican government is seeking to produce biomass and biofuels as a measure to reduce oil pollution and greenhouse gases and, at the same time, support producers located in the countryside.

The Council’s outreach to Mexican stakeholders for the event constituted a first step toward potential collaboration between the countries in the ethanol space.

Learn more about the Council’s work in ethanol here.