Ethanol Exports and Production Fuel Strong Corn Demand

U.S. ethanol production has seen a significant boost in the first five months of this year, reaching a 3% increase from last year and an 8% rise above the five-year average.

The strong demand for corn as a result of increased ethanol production has been further supported by rising exports. In May, U.S. ethanol exports saw a 12% increase compared to the same period in 2025, with 43% more shipments than the five-year average.

Canada accounted for 39% of these exports, followed closely by the Netherlands at 20%, Brazil at 8%, and Colombia and South Korea each taking up 6%. The Port of Houston handled a significant 54% of ethanol export volume in May.