USDA Releases American Biofuels Trade Outlook

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the American Biofuels Trade Outlook on September 16, outlining a plan focused on expanding market opportunities for U.S. biofuels and building on record ethanol exports in 2025.

U.S. ethanol exports reached a record 2.2 billion gallons in 2025, valued at $4.7 billion, according to USDA. The department said the new outlook is intended to remove restrictions on American biofuels and expand market opportunities for U.S. farmers.

Record Ethanol Exports

The 2025 export total marked the strongest year for U.S. ethanol exports, according to USDA. The agency's Foreign Agricultural Service reported that the 2.2 billion gallons represented a second consecutive annual export record.

USDA Secretary Brooke L. Rollins said the record reflects the performance of U.S. farmers and the broader biofuels industry.

“2025 marks the strongest year for ethanol exports in the history of the U.S., supporting our great American farmers. This record setting 2.2 billion gallons of U.S. ethanol shipped across the world this past year representing $4.7 billion is not by accident, it reflects the hard work of America's farmers and the powerful leadership of President Trump,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. "This milestone demonstrates how American innovation and rural investment can deliver prosperity for consumers and producers at home and around the globe. American farmers are fueling the future, and the American Biofuel Trade Outlook outlines the USDA's exact plan to ensure that success continues, and America's producers continue to prosper.”

Under Secretary Luke Lindberg said the USDA plans to use trade agreements and expanded ethanol blending to pursue additional international markets.

“America’s farmers are competing and winning on the world stage, and our homegrown biofuels are no exception,” said Under Secretary Luke Lindberg. “President Trump and the USDA are focused on increasing ethanol blending around the world and making sure U.S. farmers win with every new trade deal. This milestone proves our strategy has been working and the release of the American Biofuels Trade Outlook will make sure our success continues.”

What Farmers Need to Know

The American Biofuels Trade Outlook centers on international market access for U.S. biofuels. For farmers, the plan is tied to USDA's stated goal of creating additional markets for domestically produced ethanol.

The record 2025 export performance provides the starting point for the outlook. USDA's data show that U.S. ethanol exports increased to 8.4 billion liters, or 2.2 billion gallons, in 2025, with a record export value of $4.7 billion.

USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service also reported that several major markets recorded increased U.S. ethanol imports in 2025, contributing to overall export growth. These included Canada, the European Union and United Kingdom, India, Colombia, and the Philippines.

The American Biofuels Trade Outlook is intended to build on that export performance by addressing market restrictions and pursuing additional opportunities for U.S. biofuels.

USDA has made the full American Biofuels Trade Outlook available as a PDF, along with its report on 2025 U.S. ethanol exports.