Global Ethanol Summit Brings International Buyers To Washington

Global trade teams and summit discussions highlight expanding opportunities for U.S. corn and ethanol exports as nations explore renewable fuel options and reduced-carbon energy pathways.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD-TV) — Nearly 450 global ethanol buyers, producers, and policymakers are in the nation’s capital this week for the 2025 Global Ethanol Summit — a major industry gathering focused on expanding ethanol’s global reach and sustainability profile. Hosted by the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council with support from Growth Energy, the Renewable Fuels Association, and BASF, the three-day event features representatives from more than 40 countries and key U.S. trade partners.

The summit centers on three themes — ethanol is renewable and available, compatible, and affordable — while exploring new on-road and off-road applications, carbon intensity measures, trade barriers, and ethanol’s role in rural development and emission reductions. Pre-conference technical workshops featured presentations from U.S. and international experts, including POET, Growth Energy, the Global Ethanol Association, and the American Coalition for Ethanol. Council Director Alicia Koch said the event connects decision makers directly to U.S. agriculture and the broader ethanol value chain.

Before the summit, twelve trade teams from Asia, including delegations from the Philippines, Vietnam, and South Korea, toured U.S. corn regions and ethanol facilities in Iowa, North Dakota, and Nebraska. Nine more teams will travel after the conference to view logistics and production in other major grain states as the U.S. continues promoting ethanol’s export potential.

Farm-Level Takeaway: Global trade teams and summit discussions highlight expanding opportunities for U.S. corn and ethanol exports as nations explore renewable fuel options and reduced-carbon energy pathways.
Tony St. James, RFD-TV Markets Expert
Related Stories
manage risk as milk price volatility increases.
Brazil logistics issues may support U.S. soybean demand.
Brooks York with AgriSompo addresses how current market conditions and risk management are impacted by volatility in the Middle East, and considerations for farmers in the spring planting season.
Farm CPA Paul Neiffer provided guidance on navigating the R&D tax credit, emphasizing record-keeping, eligibility, and maximizing potential savings as crop margins remain the key pressure point for farmers.
For agriculture, the meeting is seen as a potential turning point, with markets watching closely for any signals on trade, exports, and future purchasing commitments.
Lower costs improve competitiveness, but demand remains uncertain.

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.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

An import lag for ground beef will likely look different than last year’s egg shortage. The difference comes down to biosecurity and market flexibility.
China’s crusher losses and Brazil tensions, Gale warns, could reopen critical soybean trade channels for U.S. producers.
Persistently low Mississippi River levels are turning logistics challenges into pricing risks — tightening margins for grain producers and exporters across the heartland.
The WASDE/Crop Production combo will be the first full read on supply, demand, and yield that could move basis and hedging plans since the government shutdown more than a month ago.
A rescheduled WASDE, China’s soybean squeeze, barge bottlenecks, and premium beef demand all collide this week — with cash decisions, basis, and risk plans on the line.
China’s grain expansion model may be hitting its limit. Lower prices, high rents, and policy fatigue threaten future output — with ripple effects across global feed and oilseed markets.