The US exported 11.48 million tonnes of distillers grains (DG) in 2016, 10% down on the record levels seen in 2015, but still marking the second highest volume ever, according to a data summary by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA).

China remained the leading market for this co-product of dry mill ethanol production, but volumes shipped to the country plunged 63% compared to 2015 because of new anti-dumping and countervailing duties against US producers.

The second largest market for US DG was Mexico, followed by Vietnam, South Korea, Turkey and Thailand. While exports to China dropped, shipments to the other nine top markets increased in 2016. Overall, the US exported an estimated 31% of its DG production last year.

In terms of value, exports fell 27% from 2015 to USD 2.19 billion as the average DG export prices declined 19% to USD 191 per tonne, the lowest in six years.

 

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