Rollins: Biofuels outlook boosts grain farmers

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said the growth of the biofuels industry boosts opportunities for grain farmers.

She spoke via Zoom Sept. 15 at Growth Energy’s Biofuels Summit. Growth Energy held its annual advocacy summit in Washington, where she addressed an audience of ethanol producers and biofuel industry leaders.

During her speech, Rollins unveiled the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s American biofuels trade outlook. The outlook includes four pillars.

First, the federal government will continue to increase on-road ethanol blending, she said. USDA will also identify breakthrough markets, including Latin America and Southeast Asia, where Rollins will help promote the fuel.

“They are primed for E10 adoption and USDA will address implementation challenges for the 20 markets around the world to ensure continued reliable access to existing ethanol export markets,” Rollins said.

Second, the U.S. government will seek to reduce and remove restrictions other nations have placed on U.S. crop-based biofuels, she said.

“Currently, several economies, including the European Union, restrict crop-based biofuels from supplying their transportation fuel demand,” she said. “These restrictions hamstring growth opportunities for U.S. biofuels exports by limiting their potential uses. It is essential that we open more markets to our U.S. biofuels for on-road transportation for aviation, and for marine fuel markets.”

Third, reaching new markets is essential, she said, adding that USDA’s market access programs and the America First Trade Promotion Program are effective.

“They help unlock greater ethanol market access for U.S. producers around the world. To that end, we will work to open strategic markets like India to on-road uses for biofuels.”

The fourth pillar is to accelerate opportunities with international organizations.

“We must keep our foot on the gas when it comes to the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Maritime Organization,” Rollins said. “This is vital to securing these emerging opportunities and fair treatment for U.S. biofuels and turning potential markets into reality.”

Success story

U.S. ethanol exports have set records since 2024.

That year, U.S. ethanol export volumes reached record levels in seven of their top 10 markets, resulting in a record export volume of 7.4 billion liters (1.9 billion gallons) and a record value of $4.3 billion, according to Guy Allen, senior economist at Kansas State University. The record-setting pace continued in 2025.

“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,” Rollins said in a news release issued Sept. 16. “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.”

Allen expects biofuel sales to remain strong for the next several months because of the Iran war.

During the past two years, U.S. ethanol exports reached new volume and value records, fueled by growing global ethanol import demand and reduced competition from Brazil, the world’s second-largest ethanol exporter, Allen said. Top ethanol-importing markets like Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom, India, Colombia and the Philippines increased ethanol consumption and drove global import demand higher. At the same time, strong domestic fuel ethanol demand in Brazil reduced exportable supplies and raised domestic prices, allowing the U.S. to increase its export share in a growing market.

While 2026 U.S. ethanol exports are ahead of last year’s record pace through June, there are a handful of wildcards that could greatly affect exports throughout the rest of the year. Changing U.S. and global biofuel policies, the emergence and implementation of new trade agreements and the effects of high energy prices due to the conflict in the Middle East could all have major effects on 2026 U.S. ethanol exports.

Although the U.S. and Canada are involved in a tariff dispute, ethanol remained exempt from additional duties as of Sept. 16.

Growth Energy CEO applauds biofuel developments

Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor applauded recent developments.

“America is the world’s leading producer and exporter of ethanol, and we’re on track for another record-setting year. Those exports fuel America’s rural economy and represent one of the best tools this administration has for narrowing the trade deficit,” Skor said in a news release. “We’re grateful that Secretary Rollins took the opportunity during her remarks today at the Growth Energy Biofuels Summit to announce USDA’s Biofuels Trade Outlook, and we believe this report is a useful tool for biofuel producers to better understand the market, identify new opportunities, and ultimately drive new business.

“Our success depends on the strong support of the Trump Administration and leaders like Secretary Rollins, who have consistently worked with Growth Energy members to break down trade barriers and create new markets that drive growth and create jobs for the farm economy. We look forward to continuing to work with her team to continue expanding America’s agricultural exports.”

Rollins said every day in America about 16 million bushels of corn are converted into 46 million gallons of fuel. She credited the success to innovative farmers.

She said President Donald Trump understands the importance of biofuels and ethanol production to farmers.

“Expanded exports help support prices to our incredible corn farmers and reduces the price volatility by removing some of the risks farmers face from factors outside their control,” Rollins said.

Dave Bergmeier can be reached at 620-227-1822 or [email protected].