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World - Ethyl Alcohol - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights
Report Update: Feb 1, 2026

World - Ethyl Alcohol - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights

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Dec 17, 2015

The U.S. Holds Sway over the Global Ethanol Market

Ethyl alcohol, also called ethanol or grain alcohol, is an essential industrial chemical that offers multiple applications in the industrial sectors of pharmaceuticals, alcoholic beverages, chemical feedstock, and automotives. Of all these sectors, the automotive segment has had the fastest growth in the usage of ethanol.

U.S. ethanol remains one of the least expensive liquid transportation fuels in the world. With a global movement toward increased renewable fuel production gaining momentum, there are more than X countries with biofuel consumption targets or mandates. This trend has helped to boost employment, create investment and lower carbon emissions across the globe. In addition, the first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol facilities in the U.S. began manufacturing the next generation of biofuels.

Currently, the U.S. produces more than half of global ethanol, providing access to the energy and economic benefits of renewable fuel. U.S. ethanol is highly dependent on corn production. Lately, U.S. ethanol has been the lowest cost motor fuel and octane source on the planet. As a result, global demand is booming and American-made ethanol is rapidly finding its way into new international markets.

Falling oil prices and a relentless misinformation campaign funded by over-anxious oil companies, along with some dubious governmental policy uncertainty, may represent serious issues for U.S. ethanol producers in 2015.

Although the U.S. has enjoyed a strangle-hold on the worldwide production of biofuels, other nations like Brazil have been catching up rapidly. In fact, Brazil is one of the most interesting examples of ethanol adoption. In the X, the OPEC oil embargo prompted the government to subsidize ethyl alcohol production. Tax incentives for Brazilian car makers were offered, with the aim to manufacture vehicles that could burn straight, X percent ethanol. By the mid-X, nearly all cars sold in Brazil ran exclusively on ethanol.

Brazilian ethanol is produced from the plentiful sugar cane that thrives in its tropical climate. As it is X percent sugar, the entire plant can be fermented into alcohol. Corn, by contrast, locks up its sugar in complex starches in the kernels that have to be broken down by costly enzymes before fermentation. Sugar cane fields, on the other hand, yield between X and X gallons of ethanol per acre, more than twice as much as corn.

In 2014, Canada (X%), the U.S. (X%), Germany (X%), the Netherlands (X%) and Japan (X%) were the leading destinations of ethyl alcohol imports, together making up X% of global imports in physical terms. While the share of Canada increased, the share of the U.S. illustrated negative dynamics. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In 2014, the U.S., Brazil and France were the main global suppliers of ethyl alcohol with a combined share of X% of global exports. However, the fastest growing suppliers from 2007 to 2014 were the Netherlands (+X% per year) and the U.S. (+X% per year). The main producers held the lion's share in global ethyl alcohol exports.

The U.S. dominates in global ethyl alcohol production and trade. In 2014, the U.S. exported X% of its total ethyl alcohol output. Of this amount, X% was supplied to Canada, where U.S. ethyl alcohol held a X% share of total Canada's consumption.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the global ethanol market. Within it, you will discover the latest data on market trends and opportunities by country, consumption, production and price developments, as well as the global trade (imports and exports). The forecast exhibits the market prospects through 2030.

Product coverage:

  • Prodcom 20147400 - Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume. .80 % (important: excluding alcohol duty)
  • Prodcom 20147500 - Denatured ethyl alcohol and other denatured spirits, of any strength

Country coverage:

Worldwide - the report contains statistical data for 200 countries and includes detailed profiles of the 50 largest consuming countries:

  • USA
  • China
  • Japan
  • Germany
  • United Kingdom
  • France
  • Brazil
  • Italy
  • Russian Federation
  • India
  • Canada
  • Australia
  • Republic of Korea
  • Spain
  • Mexico
  • Indonesia
  • Netherlands
  • Turkey
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Switzerland
  • Sweden
  • Nigeria
  • Poland
  • Belgium
  • Argentina
  • Norway
  • Austria
  • Thailand
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Colombia
  • Denmark
  • South Africa
  • Malaysia
  • Israel
  • Singapore
  • Egypt
  • Philippines
  • Finland
  • Chile
  • Ireland
  • Pakistan
  • Greece
  • Portugal
  • Kazakhstan
  • Algeria
  • Czech Republic
  • Qatar
  • Peru
  • Romania
  • Vietnam

+ the largest producing countries

Data coverage:

  • Global market volume and value
  • Per Capita consumption
  • Forecast of the market dynamics in the medium term
  • Global production, split by region and country
  • Global trade (exports and imports)
  • Export and import prices
  • Market trends, drivers and restraints
  • Key market players and their profiles

Company coverage:

Archer Daniels Midland, Poet LLC, Valero Energy Corporation, Green Plains Renewable Energy, Flint Hills Resources LP, Marquis Energy, Cargill, Pacific Ethanol, Pannonia Bio, Envien Group, Big River Resources, Gracial Lakes Energy, CropEnergies AG, SDIC Jilin Alcohol, Henan Tianguan, Tereos, Cristal Union, White Energy, Agroetanol, BioWanze SA, Beluga Group, Greenfield Global

Reasons to buy this report:

  • Take advantage of the latest data
  • Find deeper insights into current market developments
  • Discover vital success factors affecting the market

This report is designed for manufacturers, distributors, importers, and wholesalers, as well as for investors, consultants and advisors.

In this report, you can find information that helps you to make informed decisions on the following issues:

  1. How to diversify your business and benefit from new market opportunities
  2. How to load your idle production capacity
  3. How to boost your sales on overseas markets
  4. How to increase your profit margins
  5. How to make your supply chain more sustainable
  6. How to reduce your production and supply chain costs
  7. How to outsource production to other countries
  8. How to prepare your business for global expansion

While doing this research, we combine the accumulated expertise of our analysts and the capabilities of artificial intelligence. The AI-based platform, developed by our data scientists, constitutes the key working tool for business analysts, empowering them to discover deep insights and ideas from the marketing data.

  1. 1. INTRODUCTION

    Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business

    1. REPORT DESCRIPTION
    2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND THE AI PLATFORM
    3. DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
    4. GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS

  2. 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    A Quick Overview of Market Performance

    1. KEY FINDINGS
    2. MARKET TRENDSThis Chapter is Available Only for the Professional EditionPRO

  3. 3. MARKET OVERVIEW

    Understanding the Current State of The Market and its Prospects

    1. MARKET SIZE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    2. MARKET STRUCTURE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    3. TRADE BALANCE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    4. PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    5. MARKET FORECAST TO 2035

  4. 4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCTS FOR DIVERSIFICATION

    Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business

    1. TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
    2. BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
    3. MOST CONSUMED PRODUCTS
    4. MOST TRADED PRODUCTS
    5. MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCTS FOR EXPORTS

  5. 5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES

    Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain

    1. TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
    2. TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
    3. TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES
    4. LOW-COST EXPORTING COUNTRIES

  6. 6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS

    Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Export

    1. TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
    2. TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
    3. UNSATURATED MARKETS
    4. TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
    5. MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS

  7. 7. PRODUCTION

    The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry

    1. PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)

  8. 8. IMPORTS

    The Largest Import Supplying Countries

    1. IMPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    2. IMPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)
    3. IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)

  9. 9. EXPORTS

    The Largest Destinations for Exports

    1. EXPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    2. EXPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)
    3. EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)

  10. 10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS

    The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles

  11. LIST OF TABLES

    1. Key Findings In 2024
    2. Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    3. Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    4. Per Capita Consumption: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    5. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    6. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    7. Import Prices, By Country, 2012–2024
    8. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    9. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    10. Export Prices, By Country, 2012–2024

  12. LIST OF FIGURES

    1. Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    2. Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    3. Market Structure – Domestic Supply vs. Imports, in Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    4. Market Structure – Domestic Supply vs. Imports, in Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    5. Trade Balance, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    6. Trade Balance, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    7. Per Capita Consumption: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    8. Market Volume Forecast to 2035
    9. Market Value Forecast to 2035
    10. Market Size and Growth, By Product
    11. Average Per Capita Consumption, By Product
    12. Exports and Growth, By Product
    13. Export Prices and Growth, By Product
    14. Production Volume and Growth
    15. Exports and Growth
    16. Export Prices and Growth
    17. Market Size and Growth
    18. Per Capita Consumption
    19. Imports and Growth
    20. Import Prices
    21. Production, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    22. Production, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    23. Imports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    24. Imports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    25. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2024
    26. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    27. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    28. Import Prices, By Country, 2012–2024
    29. Exports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    30. Exports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    31. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2024
    32. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    33. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    34. Export Prices, By Country, 2012–2024

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