Growing Global Demand for Iowa Corn through Ethanol

The Iowa Corn Promotion Board’s (ICPB) investment in the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USGBC) has helped increase demand for U.S. corn and co-products around the world, thereby increasing Iowa corn farmer profitability.

The USGBC works to develop export markets for U.S.-grown corn, barley, grain sorghum and related products like ethanol and dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS). By acting as a bridge between U.S. suppliers and international customers, USGBC increases exposure and builds demand for U.S. and Iowa-grown crops.

RECORD U.S ETHANOL EXPORTS

This was an exciting year for the U.S. ethanol industry, and the USGBC is proud to have supported international demand for ethanol that saw 2.1 billion gallons of ethanol exported in marketing year (MY) 2024/25, a new record.

Robust global biofuel demand also led the Council to propose a vote to its members at the organization’s summer meeting, with them agreeing to amend the Council’s name to include bioproducts to improve access to international meetings and events focused on energy and transportation.

The Council’s shift to include ethanol in its promotional efforts in the mid-2010s and that new name will now mark an exciting new chapter in its mission to develop markets, enable trade and improve lives.

ETHANOL DEMAND FORECAST: EVEN HIGHER ETHANOL EXPORTS LIE AHEAD

Record U.S. ethanol exports in MY 2024/25 are cause for celebration, but even greater numbers may be on the horizon. In November, Vietnam announced an expansion of its biofuel policy that will open an export market of up to 160 million gallons of ethanol to U.S. corn producers.

Nearby, Malaysia also announced a reduction of trade barriers for both denatured and undenatured U.S. ethanol, improving access to a biofuel demand market consuming 4.5 billion gallons of gasoline annually.

The Council’s regional office for Southeast Asia & Oceania has been working with the Vietnamese and Malaysian oil and transportation industries about expanded ethanol integration for years and these breakthroughs will make swift impacts on U.S. ethanol demand and the corn market.

WORKING TOGETHER TO DRIVE GLOBAL ETHANOL DEMAND

Cooperation with fellow national and state-level agricultural partner organizations is a fundamental part of the Council’s identity, and Iowa Corn was a critical part of the Council’s work in 2025.

A highlight was ICPB District 3 Director Jason Orr’s participation in the Council’s U.S. Biofuel Supply Conference, held in Tokyo, Japan in September. International customers are always eager to hear from U.S. farmers about the practices that make U.S. fuel ethanol a high-quality commodity that significantly improves environmental and human health.

Domestically, the Council held the Global Ethanol Summit 2025 in October, drawing more than 450 buyers, end-users and policymakers from more than 40 countries to Washington, DC. The meeting highlighted ethanol’s broad applications from on-road to sustainable aviation fuel to clean cooking and beyond, stimulating international interest and fostering business connections between foreign attendees and domestic corn and ethanol producers.

The Council is deeply committed to the U.S. ethanol industry and the growers who support it. The entire organization, from its board of directors to its membership, is eager to keep pushing for another record U.S. ethanol export year in 2026.

Learn more about Iowa Corn’s work with the USGBC.