Canada imported 1.23 billion litres of the biofuel in 2020, topping Brazil’s 757 million litres and India’s 719 million litres, according to the Renewable Fuels Association.
The Western Producer reports the move up the ranks wasn’t because Canada imported a bunch more of the fuel than usual. In fact, volumes were nearly identical to the previous year.
It was due to plummeting sales to Brazil, which fell by 40% due to the pandemic as well as the country introducing a tariff and a tariff rate quota on imported product.
U.S. ethanol sales to China have also dropped due to a trade war, while exports to customers in the Arabian Gulf have plummeted due to lower blending economics.
