US Ethanol Producers Surge Corn Demand in May

According to the USDA, ethanol fuel producers in the US consumed 472 million bushels of corn in May 2026, a 10% increase from April and 6% higher than the same month last year. This surge in demand for ethanol production is reflected in the total corn consumption for alcohol and other uses, which reached 524 million bushels during the month, an increase of 9% from April and 5% year-on-year.

Of the total corn processed, 92% was used for alcohol production, while the remaining 8% went to other industrial uses. Dry mills accounted for 92% of the corn used in fuel ethanol production, while wet mills contributed the remaining 8%. The USDA also reported that carbon dioxide captured at dry and wet milling facilities totaled 251,627 tonnes in May, up 4% from April but 3% lower than the same month last year.