Bioethanol: Movement
Why most ethanol is used close to where it is distilled
What this tab covers How it moves between countries: share of output traded, physical form and transport, the largest exporters and importers, main routes, India's trade, and handling rules in transit.Trade in 2024 UN Comtrade, HS 220710
World exports $8.71 bn 99 reporting exporters · about 9.40 m t Largest exporter United States 24.2% of world exports Largest importer France 14.4% of world imports India imports $11.1 mexports $74.9 m #43 importer · #21 exporter
Where it is exported from and imported to, 2024
Chart: World map of the largest trade flows
Exporter (size = share of world exports) Importer (share of world imports) Shipping chokepoint UN Comtrade 2024, HS 220710: shares of reported world exports and imports by value. Country-to-country route lines are not available for this commodity yet. Hover a circle for values.HS 220710: largest exporters
| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 24.2% | $2.11 bn | 3.44 m |
| Netherlands | 13.8% | $1.21 bn | 1.12 m |
| Brazil | 12% | $1.04 bn | 1.50 m |
| Hungary | 6.3% | $551.3 m | 621k |
| France | 6% | $525.9 m | – |
| Belgium | 4% | $347.4 m | – |
| Germany | 3.9% | $340.8 m | 307k |
| Spain | 3.5% | $303.4 m | 286k |
HS 220710: largest importers
| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | 14.4% | $1.23 bn | 1.05 m |
| Germany | 12.6% | $1.07 bn | 1.18 m |
| Netherlands | 11.5% | $978.8 m | 922k |
| United Kingdom | 9.3% | $795.5 m | – |
| Japan | 6.7% | $568.3 m | 756k |
| United States | 3.9% | $332.8 m | 523k |
| Belgium | 3.7% | $311.9 m | – |
| Sweden | 3.4% | $293.4 m | 302k |
HS 220720: largest exporters
| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 72.7% | $2.32 bn | 4.00 m |
| Netherlands | 7.4% | $236.2 m | 235k |
| Spain | 3.8% | $121.0 m | – |
| France | 2.7% | $86.0 m | – |
| Canada | 2.1% | $67.9 m | 61k |
| South Africa | 1.6% | $51.6 m | – |
| Hungary | 1.3% | $42.3 m | 48k |
| Germany | 1.3% | $41.1 m | 32k |
HS 220720: largest importers
| Country | Share | Value (US$) | Tonnes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 32% | $1.41 bn | 1.31 m |
| India | 10.7% | $471.0 m | 680k |
| Philippines | 5.9% | $257.9 m | 397k |
| Colombia | 5.8% | $254.6 m | 341k |
| Netherlands | 5.7% | $250.1 m | 310k |
| South Korea | 3.7% | $161.0 m | – |
| Germany | 3.5% | $151.5 m | 154k |
| United Kingdom | 3.4% | $151.2 m | 159k |
How it moves
| Measure | Figure | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Share traded | about 13% of output crosses borders (derived: about 14.0 Mt in UN Comtrade 2024 export weights for HS 220710 and 220720, including potable and industrial alcohol, against about 109 Mt all-use ethanol) | ||
| How it moves | Liquid in product tankers and barges, rail tank cars in North America, road tankers to depots. Ethanol absorbs water, so it is blended at terminals, not refineries, and needs dedicated or clean tanks. | ||
| Routes and chokepoints | US Gulf to Canada, Europe, India, the Philippines, Colombia and Korea; Brazil (Santos) to Korea, Europe and the US; Rotterdam hub for European blending. | ||
| India | India is the second-largest importer of denatured ethanol (HS 220720): 0.68 Mt worth $471 million in 2024, mostly for industrial use; undenatured imports were $11 million and exports $75 million (UN Comtrade 2024). Fuel ethanol is home-made. | ||
| Handling in transit | UN1170 ethanol, Class 3 flammable liquid, Packing Group II; denatured fuel ethanol often shipped as UN1987 or UN3475 for blends (indicative). Needs vapour control and water-free tanks. |