China Imports of U.S. Ethanol Surge Ahead of Tariff Threat

  • China plans extra 15% duty on denatured ethanol from U.S.
  • Feb. imports from U.S. rose to the highest since May 2016

Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg

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China’s purchases of ethanol from the U.S. climbed, with imports in coming months dependent on the Asian country’s plan to impose extra import duties that could wipe out the margin that’s seen buying surge this year.

Imports of ethanol from U.S. totaled 189,035 cubic meters in February, the highest since May 2016, according to Chinese customs data. Purchases had slumpedBloomberg Terminal in 2017 after China imposed a 30 percent tariff on imports from the U.S.