Bulk Ethanol suppliers and buyers

About Ethanol

Ethanol is shipped in chemical tankers or isotanks and traded by the metric ton or by volume, as fuel, industrial or food grade. The grade and the specification are agreed in the contract.

Ethanol exporters and importers: who trades it in the world

World exports of Ethanol were worth about USD 13.8 billion in 2024. The largest exporting countries were United States (32.7%), Brazil (11.8%), Netherlands (11.5%), Belgium (6.3%). The largest importing countries were Netherlands (10.8%), Canada (10.4%), France (8.8%), Germany (8.7%).

Source: OEC (BACI/CEPII), 2024, customs codes 2207 (a wider product group). The figures count trade by every mode of transport, not only by sea.

How trading Ethanol works on Comdity

A company posts a sell offer or a buy request with the quantity, the delivery period and the ports. Other companies send an offer or a counteroffer on FOB, CFR or CIF terms. When both sides want to go on, they accept the offer, receive each other's contact details and finalise the contract directly. Comdity is a marketplace: it is not a party to the contract.

• FOB (Free On Board): the seller delivers the goods on board at the loading port; the buyer arranges and pays the sea freight.
• CFR (Cost and Freight): the seller pays the sea freight to the discharge port; the buyer carries the risk and the insurance from loading.
• CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight): as CFR, and the seller also insures the cargo to the discharge port.

Read more: FOB vs CFR vs CIF · offer and counteroffer · how to find commodity suppliers · export and import documents.

Ethanol is normally shipped by chemical tanker, chemical/oil products tanker. When the terms are agreed, you can explore suitable vessels on Shipfixing.