Global ethanol production set to continue growth in 2017
The Global Renewable Fuels Alliance has forecast that the global ethanol sector will remain strong in 2017, continuing the trend of ethanol production growth since 2013. Evolving government policies and varied domestic growing conditions are considered influences on the market, creating fluctuations in the outlook. The global transport sector, which is responsible for 25-30% of global emissions, has the lowest renewable energy share of any sector. Current national policies aimed at reducing CO2 emissions from global transport activity will not achieve climate targets and that governments will have to redouble efforts to meet steeper targets in coming years.

By Global Renewable Fuels Alliance | February 20, 2017

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The Global Renewable Fuels Alliance, in cooperation with F.O. Licht, released its Annual Global Ethanol Production Forecast showing continued resilience in the sector. The GRFA forecasts the global ethanol sector will remain strong in 2017, with total production peaking at 97.80 billion liters (25.84 billion gallons) this year. This latest global forecast continues the trend of incremental annual ethanol production growth since 2013, while oil prices dropped to record lows over the same period.



The latest data from F.O. Licht shows a stable global outlook for ethanol production as a whole, with some fluctuations in major ethanol-producing regions as a result of evolving government policies and varied domestic growing conditions.



“This latest forecast reaffirms the competitiveness of the fuel ethanol sector and the increasing role it has to play in international efforts to reduce global transport emissions,” said Baker. “Ethanol’s value as an immediately dispatchable transport fuel alternative to fossil fuels represents a key policy option with enormous growth potential,” he added.



The global transport sector has the lowest renewable energy share of any sector, while representing 25-30 percent of global emissions. Recent reports have concluded that current national policies aimed at reducing CO2 emissions from global transport activity will not achieve climate targets and that governments will have to redouble efforts to meet steeper targets in coming years.



“As the international community works to develop plans to scale up renewable energy use in the transport sector, the GRFA and its members look forward to working with governments to help them design policies that will allow them to achieve their goals,” Baker concluded.