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Ethanol

Ethanol Production

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Today, U.S. ethanol is primarily produced from starch-based crops by dry-mill or wet-mill processing. Cellulosic ethanol has been produced commercially in very small volumes. Several commercial cellulosic ethanol production plants are under construction, and intensive research and development is rapidly advancing the state of cellulosic ethanol technology.

Bar graph showing the annual ethanol production, consumption, and trade in the United States from 1998 to 2008. Production was 1,405 million gallons in 1998; 1,465 million gallons in 1999; 1,622 million gallons in 2000; 1,765 million gallons in 2001; 2,140 million gallons in 2002; 2,804 million gallons in 2003; 3,404 million gallons in 2004; 3,904 million gallons in 2005; 4,884 million gallons in 2006; 6,521 million gallons in 2007; and 9,237 million gallons in 2008. Consumption was 1.388 million gallons in 1998; 1,443 million gallons in 1999; 1,653 million gallons in 2000; 1,741 million gallons in 2001; 2,073 million gallons in 2002; 2,826 million gallons in 2003; 3,552 million gallons in 2004; 4,059 million gallons in 2005; 5,481 million gallons in 2006; 6,886 million gallons in 2007; and 9,600 million gallons in 2008. Net imports were negative 17 million gallons in 1998, negative 22 million gallons in 1999; 31 million gallons in 2000; negative 24 million gallons in 2001; negative 67 million gallons in 2002; 22 million gallons in 2003; 148 million gallons in 2004; 154 million gallons in 2005; 597 million gallons in 2006; 365 in 2007; and 363 million gallons in 2008.

*Trade includes small changes in stock
Source: Energy Information Agency (EIA) (Excel 43 KB)



Bar graph showing world ethanol production for 2008. USA 9,000 million gallons; Brazil 6,472 million gallons; European Union 734 million gallons; China 502 million gallons; Canada 238 million gallons; Other 128 million gallons; Thailand 90 million gallons; Columbia 79 million gallons; India 66 million gallons; Australia 26 million gallons.

Source: Renewable Fuels Association, 2009 (Excel 35 KB)


Choose from the links below to learn more about ethanol production.

Starch- and Sugar-Based Ethanol Production 


Cellulosic Ethanol Production