Ethanol Demand Lifts July Corn Use Above Year

Stronger ethanol production is providing additional domestic demand for corn heading into harvest.

Ethanol gasoline fuel nozzle and corn kernels. Biofuel, agriculture and fuel price concept

JJ Gouin - stock.adobe.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD News) — U.S. corn use for ethanol strengthened in July, providing additional domestic demand as growers prepare for harvest. USDA says mills used 475 million bushels of corn for fuel alcohol, up 2% from June and 4% from July 2025.

Total corn consumed for alcohol and other uses reached 528 million bushels. More than 92% went into alcohol production, with dry mills accounting for nearly 93% of corn used for fuel ethanol.

The processing sector also produced large volumes of livestock feed. Distillers dried grains with solubles totaled 1.85 million tons, up 2% from June but slightly below last year, while wet distillers grains reached 1.29 million tons.

Wet corn gluten feed production increased 8% from June and 10% from a year earlier, adding another feed source for cattle and other livestock operations.

For corn growers, stronger July ethanol use reinforces the importance of domestic fuel markets heading into harvest, while co-product output continues linking ethanol production with livestock feed demand.

Farm-Level Takeaway: Stronger ethanol production is supporting corn demand while continuing to supply valuable feed co-products for livestock producers.
Tony St. James, RFD News Markets Specialist

Tony St. James joined the RFD-TV talent team in August 2024, bringing a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to RFD-TV and Rural Radio Channel 147 Sirius XM. In addition to his role as Market Specialist (collaborating with Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady to provide radio and TV audiences with the latest updates on ag commodity markets), he hosts “Rural America Live” and serves as talent for trade shows.

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