IOWA ETHANOL producers wish to thank America and those abroad...........NEW RECORD!
Over 1 billion gallons of ethanol was exported this year. Up big time from last year with most going to Brazil.
Production at Iowa’s 41 ethanol plants increased by about 200 million gallons this year over 2010 to a record 3.7 billion gallons, but Iowa Renewable Fuels Association executive director said that exports, not domestic demand, was responsible for the rise.
“2011 was certainly a good year for Iowa ethanol producers with increased production and profitability,” said IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “However, we relied on export markets for growth.”
Domestic demand for ethanol has been flat because the industry bumped against the so-called “blend wall” mandate of ten percent of total U.S. gasoline production sometime in mid-2011. Total U.S. production for 2011 is estimated at 13.8 billion gallons.
Mandated use of ethanol under federal Renewable Fuel Standards Act will rise from 12.6 billion gallons in 2011 to 13.2 billion gallons next year.
Foreign sales of U.S. ethanol have added another 1 billion gallons of production this year, spurred by strong sales in Brazil where a shortfall in the sugar cane crop caused that nation to turn to imports for domestic use.
Shaw said about 1.34 billion bushels of corn, about 62 percent of Iowa’s 2010 corn harvest, were used to make the 3.7 billion gallons of ethanol produced in the state.
He noted that Iowa’s ethanol plants produced 11.5 million tons, or about 448 million bushels of dried distillers grains that are sold for cattle feed.
Production at Iowa’s 41 ethanol plants increased by about 200 million gallons this year over 2010 to a record 3.7 billion gallons, but Iowa Renewable Fuels Association executive director said that exports, not domestic demand, was responsible for the rise.
“2011 was certainly a good year for Iowa ethanol producers with increased production and profitability,” said IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “However, we relied on export markets for growth.”
Domestic demand for ethanol has been flat because the industry bumped against the so-called “blend wall” mandate of ten percent of total U.S. gasoline production sometime in mid-2011. Total U.S. production for 2011 is estimated at 13.8 billion gallons.
Mandated use of ethanol under federal Renewable Fuel Standards Act will rise from 12.6 billion gallons in 2011 to 13.2 billion gallons next year.
Foreign sales of U.S. ethanol have added another 1 billion gallons of production this year, spurred by strong sales in Brazil where a shortfall in the sugar cane crop caused that nation to turn to imports for domestic use.
Shaw said about 1.34 billion bushels of corn, about 62 percent of Iowa’s 2010 corn harvest, were used to make the 3.7 billion gallons of ethanol produced in the state.
He noted that Iowa’s ethanol plants produced 11.5 million tons, or about 448 million bushels of dried distillers grains that are sold for cattle feed.