Corn Farmers Set Sights on Maritime Fuel Market
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is exploring new markets for corn demand, and one promising sector is the maritime industry. With a record-breaking 17 billion bushels of corn produced in 2025, valued at $70.1 billion, NCGA is working to generate new demand through three emerging sectors, including ethanol in the maritime fuel market.
The maritime fuels industry is searching for practical, non-petroleum-based alternative fuels due to its contribution of 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Ethanol can help meet this need by displacing fossil fuels used today. Maersk spokespersons stated that 'ethanol is relevant to explore because it has an established global market and existing infrastructure, and it shares properties similar to methanol.'
Capturing just 10% of the global maritime fuel market would translate to a significant demand for corn, bringing it close to last year's total U.S. corn exports of 3 billion bushels. Kentucky farmer Josh Lancaster sees this market as 'a huge benefit for the future of corn and a great solution for the maritime industry.'