U.S. fuel ethanol producers increased corn consumption to 472 million bushels in May 2026, up 10% from the previous month and 6% higher than a year earlier, according to the latest Grain Crushings and Co-Products Production report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
U.S. fuel ethanol production continued to strengthen in May, with ethanol plants consuming 472 million bushels of corn, reflecting higher processing activity compared with both the previous month and the same period last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said.
Total corn used for alcohol production and other industrial purposes reached 524 million bushels during May, up 9% from April and 5% higher than May 2025. Of the total, 92% was used for alcohol production, while the remaining 8% went to other uses.
Corn processed specifically for fuel ethanol production rose 10% from April and 6% year-on-year to 472 million bushels. Dry mills accounted for 92% of the corn used for fuel ethanol production, with wet mills contributing the remaining 8%, the USDA said.
Output of several ethanol co-products also increased during the month. Production of condensed distillers solubles reached 125,806 tonnes, up 6% from April and 2% higher than a year earlier. Corn oil production rose to 206,343 tonnes, increasing 9% month-on-month and 6% from May 2025.
Production of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), a major livestock feed ingredient, climbed 11% from April to 1.77 million metric tonnes, although it was marginally lower than the corresponding month last year. Distillers wet grains production increased nearly 6% to 1.37 million tonnes and was 12% higher than a year ago. Modified distillers grains production, however, fell 6% from April to 443,978 tonnes but remained slightly above May 2025 levels.
At wet milling facilities, corn germ meal production declined 3% from April and 2% from a year earlier to 53,118 tonnes. Corn gluten feed production increased 20% month-on-month to 292,461 tonnes and was 10% higher than the previous year. Corn gluten meal output rose 10% from April to 106,960 tonnes but remained 3% below May 2025 levels. Wet corn gluten feed production edged up nearly 1% from the previous month to 190,178 tonnes but declined 5% year-on-year.
The USDA also reported that carbon dioxide captured at dry and wet milling facilities totalled 251,627 tonnes in May, up 4% from April but down 3% compared with the same month last year, indicating continued expansion of carbon capture activities alongside ethanol production.
