By Erin Voegele
The USDA predicts that corn use for ethanol will remain relatively flat, increasing by 0.5 percent over the next decade, according to data released by the agency in February as part of its long-term agricultural projections through 2030.
The agency said ethanol exports are assumed to account for a small but growing share of ethanol consumption through 2030. Total ethanol consumption is assumed relatively stagnant due to gradually declining motor gasoline consumption. Ethanol imports are projected to remain mostly flat.
Corn use to produce ethanol is expected to continue to be a substantial source of demand for the sector, accounting for about one-third of total U.S. corn use through the projection period.
The USDA said underpinning its projections are expected declines in overall gasoline in the U.S. The agency said the U.S. is not projected to return to annual gasoline consumption levels seen prior to COVID-19, although there is expected to be an increase from 2019-’20 levels. Additionally, the USDA said the assumptions project the 10-percent ethanol “blend wall” remains in place, constraining domestic ethanol use over the next decade.
Most gasoline sold in the U.S. is expected to continue to be an E10 blend. According to the USDA, some growth is projected in E15 early in the projection period, but infrastructure and other constraints are expected to limit growth over the long term. The E85 market is expected remain small.
Globally, full recovery in ethanol-gasoline demand to pre-pandemic levels in 2021 is not expected. In most countries, fuel ethanol decline and recovery is expected to mirror changes in gasoline pools where it is blended.
Longer-term, the USDA said global biofuel production and consumption is expected to increase further, though at a slower pace than in recent years. Higher growth rates for renewable diesel and sustainable jet fuel (SAF) are expected.
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