Worldwide fuel ethanol production climbed to over **** billion gallons in 2024. This was an increase of nearly *** billion gallons compared to the previous year and the highest figure on record. Ethanol is one of the most common types of biofuel consumed and it is derived primarily from crops such as corn.

Introduction

Ethanol Statistics: Ethanol, or ethyl alcohol (C2H5OH), is a versatile chemical compound utilized primarily as a biofuel additive in gasoline and as a key ingredient in alcoholic beverages.

It is typically produced through the fermentation of sugars from various feedstocks such as corn, sugarcane, and cellulose-based materials.

Ethanol serves as a renewable energy source, with lower overall carbon emissions compared to fossil fuels. However, challenges include feedstock availability, land use concerns, and energy balance considerations.

Despite these challenges, ethanol plays a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting renewable energy adoption. Supported by regulatory frameworks mandating its use in fuel blends and incentivizing production.

The United States is the leading producer of fuel ethanol in the world. In 2024, the U.S. produced an estimated 16.1 billion gallons of the biofuel. The U.S. is also the overall leading biofuel producer in the world. Ethanol is a grain alcohol that can be blended with gasoline and used in regular motor vehicles at a concentration of up to ten percent. Brazil is the world's second-largest producing country, with an output of 8.8 billion gallons that same year. Brazil – the leading biofuel market The most common ethanol fuel production type in Brazil is hydrous ethanol, which is the highest concentration grade of ethanol achieved through distillation. Brazil is one of the largest markets for biofuels worldwide, with specifically designed flexible-fuel vehicles available that run on fuels with a greater ethanol content than regular motor vehicles. As a result, the adoption rate of fuel ethanol has been a lot higher compared with other countries, with flexible-fuel vehicles being the most common type of light vehicles across Brazil. Largest ethanol refiners in the U.S. Poet Biorefining is the largest U.S. ethanol producer by capacity. As of 2024, the South Dakota-based biofuel refiner had an annual production capacity of 2.7 billion gallons. The company was founded in 1986 and boasts over thirty locations largely across the U.S. Midwest.

Fuel ethanol production in the United States has considerably increased since 1980, reaching **** billion gallons in 2024. This matched the peak reported in 2018. Iowa has the largest ethanol production capacity in the United States, at some *** billion gallons per year.

Ethanol fell to 1.74 USD/Gal on July 29, 2025, down 1.28% from the previous day. Over the past month, Ethanol's price has risen 3.42%, but it is still 1.28% lower than a year ago, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. Ethanol - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on July of 2025.

Ethanol consumption worldwide climbed to nearly *** million metric tons in 2024 and are expected to reach *** million metric tons in 2025. Ethanol consumption could further rise to more than *** million metric tons in 2030.

The attribute data for this point dataset come from EIA's U.S. Fuel Ethanol Plant Production Capacity report, which is sourced from U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-819, Monthly Report of Biofuels, Fuels from Non-Biogenic Wastes, Fuel Oxygenates, Isooctane, and Isooctene. Fuel Ethanol production capacity is intended to measure estimated gallons of fuel alcohol that a plant is capable of producing over a period of one year (365 consecutive days) starting on the first day of each report month.Production capacity in million gallons per year (MMgal/year).The facility location data represent the approximate location based on research of publicly available information from sources such as Federal agencies, company websites, and satellite images on public websites.

In 2023, the European Union's fuel ethanol production was estimated to be roughly *** billion liters. This figure is forecast to increase to *** billion liters in 2024.

Brazil Ethanol Production data was reported at 27,254,441.000 l th in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 30,232,435.000 l th for 2016. Brazil Ethanol Production data is updated yearly, averaging 12,751,811.000 l th from Aug 1981 (Median) to 2017, with 37 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 30,232,435.000 l th in 2016 and a record low of 3,706,375.000 l th in 1981. Brazil Ethanol Production data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Sugarcane Industry Producers Union. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Biofuel Sector – Table BR.RZB007: Biofuel Production: Ethanol.

Brazil Ethanol Production: Piauí data was reported at 21,605.000 l th in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 32,674.000 l th for 2016. Brazil Ethanol Production: Piauí data is updated yearly, averaging 22,831.000 l th from Aug 1981 (Median) to 2017, with 37 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 50,501.000 l th in 2007 and a record low of 198.000 l th in 1981. Brazil Ethanol Production: Piauí data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Sugarcane Industry Producers Union. The data is categorized under Brazil Premium Database’s Biofuel Sector – Table BR.RZB007: Biofuel Production: Ethanol.

Why did the Ethanol Price Change in July 2025? North American Ethanol Price Index increased by 1% over Q1 2025 but eventually had a downward trend throughout Q2, with quarterly average valued at USD 593/MT, 99% FOB Texas, as the market weakened despite initial-quarter strength.

Homeland Infrastructure Foundation-Level Data (HIFLD) geospatial data sets containing information on Ethanol Plants.

Statistics illustrates consumption, production, prices, and trade of Ethyl Alcohol in the World from 2007 to 2024.

This API provides international data on fuel ethanol production and consumption. Data organized by country. Users of the EIA API are required to obtain an API Key via this registration form: http://www.eia.gov/beta/api/register.cfm

United States Fuel Ethanol: Renewable Fuels & Oxy Plant Net Production: Midwest data was reported at 1,005.000 1000 Barrel/Day in Aug 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 990.000 1000 Barrel/Day for Jul 2018. United States Fuel Ethanol: Renewable Fuels & Oxy Plant Net Production: Midwest data is updated monthly, averaging 796.000 1000 Barrel/Day from Jan 2004 (Median) to Aug 2018, with 176 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,005.000 1000 Barrel/Day in Aug 2018 and a record low of 209.000 1000 Barrel/Day in Jan 2004. United States Fuel Ethanol: Renewable Fuels & Oxy Plant Net Production: Midwest data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Energy Information Administration. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.RB017: Petroleum Overview: by Product.

Poet Biorefining is the largest ethanol producer in the United States. As of 2024, the South Dakota-based company had an ethanol production capacity of *** billion gallons per annum across ** plants in the Midwest. Ethanol is used in chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing, and as a biofuel. U.S. fuel ethanol production In 2023, U.S. ethanol producers reported an output of some ***** billion gallons of fuel ethanol. Fuel ethanol is specifically used as an additive in petroleum-based gasoline or as pure biofuel. In recent years, production seems to have stagnated, with annual volumes lower than the peak of more than ** billion gallons reported in 2018. Iowa is the state with the largest number of ethanol biorefineries, followed by other Midwestern states. U.S. role in the global biofuel landscape The U.S. is a biofuel producing powerhouse, contributing over ** percent to global production of around *** million barrels of oil equivalent. In 2022, the U.S. generated approximately ******* barrels of oil equivalent per day, making it the leading biofuel producing country worldwide. Due to the feedstocks needed in ethanol and biodiesel production, namely starch, sugar, and oil crops, the largest biofuel producers are often those with great agricultural resources.

Brazil BR: Consumer Fuel Price: Ethanol: Maximum data was reported at 6.490 BRL/l in Mar 2025. This stayed constant from the previous number of 6.490 BRL/l for Feb 2025. Brazil BR: Consumer Fuel Price: Ethanol: Maximum data is updated monthly, averaging 3.150 BRL/l from Jul 2001 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 284 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.989 BRL/l in Mar 2022 and a record low of 1.580 BRL/l in Jul 2001. Brazil BR: Consumer Fuel Price: Ethanol: Maximum data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels Agency. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Brazil – Table BR.PF002: Consumer Fuel Price: Brazil: Monthly. Note:The Survey of Price and Margin Fuels Marketing covers gasoline, hydrated ethanol fuel, diesel oil without additive, compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) which have been surveyed in 555 locations, about 10% municipalities in Brazil, in accordance with procedures established by the Brazilian National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels.The results of the Survey of Price and Margin Fuels Marketing contain selling price to the final consumer and purchasing price from the wholesaler of gasoline, hydrated ethanol fuel, diesel oil without additive, CNG and LPG observed in each municipality which has participated in the survey.

In 2023, the production of ethanol used as a fuel in India amounted to approximately *** billion liters. This figure was forecast to amount to *** billion liters in 2024. Ethanol may be blended with gasoline and used as a motor fuel in regular combustion engine cars, or as a 100 percent pure ethanol fuel in specifically fitted engines.

Statistics illustrates consumption, production, prices, and trade of Ethyl Alcohol in Belarus from 2007 to 2024.

0.00 (thousand barrels per day) in 2019. Fuel ethanol is the ethanol intended for fuel use. In the U. S. fuel ethanol must be anhydrous (less than 1 percent water). Fuel ethanol is denatured (made unfit for human consumption), usually prior to transport from the ethanol production facility, by adding 2 to 5 volume percent petroleum, typically pentanes plus or conventional motor gasoline. fuel ethanol is used principally for blending in low concentrations with motor gasoline as an oxygenate or octane enhancer. In high concentrations, it is used to fuel alternative-fuel vehicles specially designed for its use