U.S. ethanol imports rebound

[Karl]

Ethanol Producer Magazine – April 2008 Issue

Data compiled and recently released by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows that the United States increased its imports of fuel ethanol in January. Imports dipped from 985,000 barrels in October 2007 to 380,000 barrels in November, to the year’s lowest figures – 198,000 barrels in December. However, imports rebounded to 495,000 barrels, nearly 21 million gallons, in January.

The majority of the imported fuel came from countries in the Caribbean and Central America. According to the EIA, Jamaica led with exports totaling 204,000 barrels, followed by Costa Rica exporting 128,000 barrels. Trinidad & Tobago exported 97,000 barrels, El Salvador exported 63,000 barrels, followed by Canada with 2,000 barrels and Brazil with 1,000 barrels.

ConocoPhillips, which brought in 128,000 barrels from Costa Rica, had the highest import ethanol figure among companies. Shell, which imported two shipments of ethanol from Jamaica, was second with a total of 109,000 barrels; Cargill imported 95,000 barrels from Jamaica; Vitol SA Inc. imported its 63,000 barrels from El Salvador; and CHS Inc., purchased all of the ethanol reportedly exported into the United States from Canada.

Source: Ethanol Producer Magazine

[Karl]

Fri May 2, 2008 9:27pm IST

(Read Full Article: ANALYSIS-Ethanol loses halo but still has U.S. support | Markets | Reuters)

Soaring food prices have shaken U.S. politicians' love affair with ethanol, but lawmakers are unlikely to adjust mandates for a five-fold boost in biofuel until after the November presidential election.

Renewable fuels made from corn and other crops were once seen as the panacea for an impending U.S. energy crunch, both in Congress and the White House. But cattle, hog and chicken farmers who have seen feed prices skyrocket, as well as grocery store chains and restaurants, have sought to cast the fuel as the political boogeyman for soaring prices at the supermarket.

Some U.S. politicians are now calling for Congress to rethink legislation it passed last year that would require U.S. gasoline supply to include 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels by 2022. At least one U.S. senator, Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), is seeking to freeze the mandate at 2008 levels of 9 billion gallons. That's after the governor of Texas -- whose state is the biggest U.S. cattle producer -- asked the federal government to waive half of its mandated ethanol requirement for 2008.

[Karl]

Sat, 03 May 2008 14:13:43

(Read Full Article: Press TV - Bush defends ethanol as energy source)

US President George W. Bush has defended his emphasis on ethanol despite the corn-based biofuel's contribution to increasing food prices. Bush made the comment at a question-and-answer session with employees of a high-tech manufacturer on Friday saying, "As you know, I'm an ethanol person. It makes sense for America to be growing energy."

Bush has been promoting the use of ethanol, which is largely made from corn, to alleviate the nation's shortage of domestically produced energy; however, critics have focused on the new demand for corn as a factor in driving up food prices. He acknowledged that ethanol has contributed to higher food prices, but said it was not the main reason.

Bush also blamed Congress for blocking efforts to allow Arctic National Wildlife Refuge drilling saying, 'If Congress is truly interested in helping relieve the price of gasoline,' it would recognize that the country needs to drill for oil and gas in areas that have been off-limits mostly for environmental reasons and would encourage the construction of oil refineries.

[karmakop]

I suppose its good that they're at least importing from countries more suitable to produce the stuff, but it's still not good.