Philippines emerging as robust market for American ethanol
DES MOINES, United States—The Philippines is seen as a major driver of record-breaking ethanol exports from America this year as the Southeast Asian country continues to ramp up its adoption of bioethanol blends.
US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg says the Philippines is viewed as a strategic partner in ethanol shipments.
“We are exporting and projecting right now a record [year]—this is the best ethanol export year in the history of the United States of America,” Lindberg says in a briefing here in the capital city of Iowa. “The Philippines would be a great partner in that.”
Data from the USDA show that US ethanol exports reached a record $4.74 billion in 2025, more than a 10-percent increase from a year ago.
Ethanol is among the top 10 agricultural exports to the Philippines, with shipments surging by 87 percent to $192.06 million in 2025.
Lindberg says their estimates on US ethanol exports are hinged on the Philippines optimizing the benefits of ethanol in lowering pump prices and improving air quality.
“The Philippines is a great market to look at because you’re already using E20 (20 percent ethanol) blends in terms of ethanol blending into your gasoline and supply chain, which is really remarkable,” the US agriculture official says.
“You’re getting the full benefit of what ethanol can do to both reduce the price of the pump, but also specifically to help clean up the air and experience some of those environmental benefits that ethanol brings to the table,” he adds.
Back in the Philippines, the Department of Energy (DOE) says the US remains a key strategic partner in advancing the government’s biofuels, energy security and energy transition agenda.
“The United States is an important partner in supporting the Philippines’ National Biofuels Program, both as a reliable source of ethanol supply and as a source of technical expertise as the country works toward higher bioethanol blends,” the DOE tells the Inquirer in a message.
The DOE says the United States can help augment domestic supply when local production is insufficient to meet blending requirements while contributing to fuel supply security through competitively priced and sustainably produced ethanol.
The agency also sees significant opportunities for knowledge and information sharing on industry best practices and technical support, given Washington’s extensive experience in corn-based ethanol production.
The E20 blend in gasoline is currently implemented on a voluntary basis, while the mandatory 10 percent blend has been in place since 2011.
The DOE says it is making the necessary policy and technical preparations to introduce a 15-percent ethanol blend in gasoline in a safe and effective manner. It is pursuing development of the Philippine National Standards.
It notes that the Department of Agriculture has an ongoing proposal to amend Joint Administrative Order No. 2008-1, Series of 2008, which prohibits the use of corn as a feedstock for bioethanol production.
Industry assessment and stakeholder consultations are ongoing to evaluate the viability of this proposal.
