The United States recorded a strong rise in ethanol exports in 2025, while shipments of distillers grains declined during the same period, according to data released on February 19 by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service.
Ethanol exports crossed 2.18 billion gallons in 2025, up nearly 13 percent from 1.94 billion gallons in 2024. The total value of these exports stood at $4.8 billion, compared to $4.32 billion the previous year.
In December alone, the U.S. exported 220.35 million gallons of ethanol. This was higher than 211.33 million gallons shipped in November and 196.28 million gallons exported in December 2024.
The U.S. supplied ethanol to about 39 countries in December. Canada remained the top buyer with 66.44 million gallons, followed by the Netherlands at 36.3 million gallons and Jamaica at 16.87 million gallons. The total value of ethanol exports in December reached $473.17 million. Although this was lower than November’s $508.15 million, it was higher than the $418.59 million recorded in December last year.
For the full year, the leading destinations for U.S. ethanol were Canada, the Netherlands, India, the United Kingdom and Colombia.
Meanwhile, exports of distillers grains declined in 2025. Total shipments fell 4 percent to 11.6 million metric tons, compared to 12.08 million metric tons in 2024. The value of these exports also dropped to $2.77 billion from $3.12 billion a year earlier.
In December, the U.S. exported 894,665 metric tons of distillers grains, down from 933,557 metric tons in November and 1.02 million metric tons in December 2024. The value of December shipments was $216.86 million, slightly lower than November and significantly below the $354.43 million recorded in the same month last year.
More than three dozen countries imported U.S. distillers grains in December. Mexico was the largest buyer at 164,406 metric tons, followed by Indonesia and South Korea. Over the year, the top markets for distillers grains were Mexico, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia and Turkey.
The latest figures show steady global demand for U.S. ethanol, even as exports of distillers grains softened during the year.
