Ethanol imports drop off sharply

January 10, 2008

BY Sarah Smith

Web exclusive posted Jan. 17, 2008, at 8:13 a.m. CST

November imports of ethanol dropped 57 percent from the previous month, in part because duty-free Caribbean Basin Initiative countries slowed the flow north.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration listed nearly 16 million gallons coming into the United States from various sources. Approximately 8.8 million gallons came from CBI countries, a 72 percent drop from October, and a shade over the 7 million gallons that came from Brazil, the world's second largest ethanol producer behind the United States. Trinidad shipped 4.25 million gallons to New Jersey ports through trading house Noble Americas, and 378,000 gallons of fuel to Chevron in Texas. Sunoco imported nearly 4 million gallons of ethanol from Brazil, and Cargill imported nearly 3.5 million gallons of fuel from El Salvador. This shipment went to Shell Oil and Chevron in Hawaii.

More than 3 million gallons of the Brazilian ethanol went to Citgo Petroleum's terminal in New Jersey. ConocoPhillips imported 672,000 gallons of Jamaican ethanol to New Jersey.

A small amount of Canadian ethanol–42,000 gallons–went through North Dakota to a CHS Inc. refinery in Montana.

The CBI countries enjoy a preferential trade advantage. Congress conferred duty-free status on certain underdeveloped countries to combat poverty and drug trafficking.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Upcoming Events

Sign up for our e-newsletter!

Advertisement

Advertisement