Exports of ethanol byproduct up sharply

Exports of a key byproduct of ethanol production, distillers grains, were up 24 percent last year. Some 5.6 million metric tons of the livestock feed worth about $1 billion were shipped out of the country last year, the Renewable Fuels Association said today, citing data from the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. Those exports represented about 18 percent of the total produced last year.

According to the trade group, the exported distillers grains represent the equivalent in feed of t.4 million metric tons of corn, or 212 million bushels, and 1.6 million metric tons of soybean meal.

More than one-quarter of the exported distiller grains, or 1.5 million tons, went to Mexico last year. Canada was the second largest destination, with nearly 804,000 tons, followed by China at 542,000 tons. China imported virtually none of the proudct in 2008, according to the Renewable Fuels Association.

source: desmoinesregister