BEIJING: China’s ethanol exports rose 8% month on month to 19,814 cu m in July, General Administration of Customs data released last Friday showed. More than 99% of China’s ethanol exports in July were of undenatured ethanol. Saudi Arabia remained the main destination for China’s undenatured ethanol exports in July at 12,945 cu m, about 65% of total exports, followed by North Korea at 4,137 cu m and the Philippines at 2,015 cu m. Over January-July, China exported a total 97,137 cu m of ethanol, 97% of which was undenatured ethanol.
Export volumes are expected to fall from August due to a rise in domestic ethanol prices in the month, market sources said. Hydrous ethanol prices rose about Yuan 100/mt ($15/mt) in the first half of August to Yuan 4,500-4,800/mt, while anhydrous ethanol prices have risen to around Yuan 5,800/mt from around Yuan 5,000/mt in July, said a China-based source. Despite this, the import arbitrage window has not yet opened, said an Asian trader source.
China’s ethanol imports in July remained minimal at 288 cu m, 88% of which was undenatured ethanol from Myanmar. For dried distillers grains, or DDGS, China’s imports in July fell 47% month on month, or 18.57 million kg, to 20.82 million kg. All imports in July came from the US.
