USDA reports record-setting year for ethanol exports to China

Ethanol exports to China rose to record-setting numbers this year following a trade mission trip to northeast China. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture-led trip sent representatives from nine state departments of agriculture and 28 United States companies. The increase in exports makes China the largest food and farm products exports market for the United States.

"Our objective for every trade mission is to create new markets for farm products made in rural America," USDA Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Michael Scuse, who led the mission, said. "U.S. ethanol exports to China have jumped from $8 million to more than $86 million since our May 2014 visit. In October, we exported more ethanol to China than in the previous 10 years combined."

Scuse and his delegation met with Chinese gasoline companies, fuel lenders, oil companies, commodity traders and government officials to discuss the benefits of ethanol blends. As a result, the United States exported almost half of its ethanol exports for the month of October 2015 to China.

In addition to the trip to China, the USDA brought together 21 states to double the number of fueling pumps in the United States. This program, the Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership, gives more people access to American-made biofuels.

"These are the kind of initiatives that strengthen our rural communities, and open new doors and help our farmers and ranchers capitalize on the tremendous export potential for American agricultural products," Scuse said.