Ethanol Without Borders

Monthly U.S. imports of ethanol in June rose to 820,000 barrels, up 24% compared to May, according to preliminary company level import data supplied by the federal Energy Information Administration. Imports of the plant-derived gasoline additive averaged about 27,333 barrels a day over 30 days in June. There were 14 shipments in June, two more than in May.Brazil, the largest exporter in the month, increased exports by about 87% in June to 488,000 barrels in seven shipments, from a total of 261,000 barrels in three shipments in May. The Brazilian material made way to ports in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.


Jamaica was the next largest exporter in June, increasing shipments by about 71.4% to 192,000 barrels in three cargoes, compared to 112,000 barrels in three shipments in May. Two of the cargoes were shipped to East Coast ports in New Jersey and Connecticut and one was received in Honolulu, Hawaii.

El Salvador’s exports were up by about 33% in June as two cargoes, while Trinidad’s shipments to the U.S. fell by about 31%. Canada’s export level was steady at 1,000 barrels to North Dakota.

Nobel Americas was the largest ethanol importer in June, receiving four cargos; three from Brazil and the one from Trinidad, for a total of 209,000 barrels. Major oil companies Shell Oil, a unit of Royal Dutch Shell, and ConocoPhillips each imported one cargo. Refiners Valero Energy; Citgo, a unit of Petroleos de Venezuela SA; Sunoco; and CHS also imported one cargo each. Global trader/marketer Vitol Holding imported two cargos in June, while merchant wholesaler Northville Industries received one shipment. Ethanol processor and trader ED&F Man Holdings also imported one ethanol cargo in June.