Data Indicate Ethanol Will Pass Exports as Number Two Corn Use by
2008 (6-9-06)
Data from ProExporter
Network and the United States Department of Agriculture suggests
ethanol will pass exports as the number two use of corn by 2008.
Leon Corzine, National
Corn Growers Association (NCGA) president, said, “This data
clearly shows the tremendous growth of the ethanol industry, which
has been built by our farmers investing in themselves through the
state checkoffs. The industry has definitely been built with our
state associations and the NCGA working together. Most of the growth
is farmer-owned, and the domestic uses increase jobs in rural communities.”
Corn used for ethanol
has increased every year since 1999 and has more than doubled in
the past six years. In 1999, 553 million bushels were used for ethanol;
by 2004, that number reached 1.204 billion bushels, according to
the data released from PRX on May 31 and the USDA Economic Research
Service Exports report on May 12.
Meanwhile, corn used
for exports have remained steady, with at least 1.897 billion bushels
of corn produced for exports from 1999 to 2004.
For 2005, 1.448 billion
bushels of ethanol are projected to be used, and 1.8 billion bushels
of corn for exports are projected.
Max Starbuck, NCGA director
of livestock and economic development, said, “In the last
seven years, the growth of ethanol has been more rapid than anticipated.”
Corzine noted
the increase in ethanol use is another reason why Congress should
pass the Renewable Fuel Standard in the upcoming energy bill. “The
8-billion gallon Renewable Fuel Standard is needed to assure the
continued growth in the ethanol industry.”
