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Second-best year ever for ethanol exports

The U.S. exported nearly 739 million gallons of ethanol in 2012, down 38 percent from 2011 but still the second-highest export total on record. Canada was the top destination for U.S. ethanol getting 235.8 million gallons followed by the United Kingdom with 65.2 million gallons, Brazil with 59.5 million gallons then the Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, Mexico and Peru.

We imported 555 million gallons of ethanol last year with 83 percent of that being sugarcane ethanol from Brazil. We also purchased imports from Jamaica, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Nicaragua through the Caribbean Basin Initiative.

The Renewable Fuels Association says more than 20 of the nation’s 211 ethanol plants are idle right now as tight corn stocks and high prices have made them unprofitable to run.