Atten Babler Ethanol FX Indices – Mar ’20
The Atten Babler Commodities Ethanol Foreign Exchange (FX) Indices strengthened throughout Feb ’20. The USD/Ethanol Producer FX Index increased to a record high level while the USD/Domestic Ethanol Importer FX Index finished at a four year high.
Global Ethanol Producers:
Major ethanol producers are led by the U.S., followed by Brazil, the EU-28, China, India and Canada.
The U.S. accounts for half of the USD/Ethanol Producer FX Index while Brazil accounts for over a quarter of the index.
USD/Ethanol Producer FX Index:
The USD/Ethanol Producer FX Index increased 3.3 points during Feb ’20, finishing at a record high value of 39.1. The USD/Ethanol Producer FX Index has increased 5.1 points throughout the past six months and 32.9 points since the beginning of 2014. A strong USD/Ethanol Producer FX Index reduces the competitiveness of U.S. ethanol relative to other major producing regions (represented in green in the Global Ethanol Producers chart), ultimately resulting in less foreign demand, all other factors being equal. USD appreciation against the Brazilian real has accounted for the majority of the gains since the beginning of 2014.
USD appreciation within the USD/Ethanol Producer FX Index during Feb ’20 was led by gains against the Brazilian real, followed by gains against the euro, Canadian dollar, Chinese yuan renminbi and Indian rupee.
U.S. Ethanol Export Destinations:
Major destinations for U.S. ethanol exports are led by Canada, followed by the Philippines, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, Peru and Mexico.
Canada accounts for over a half of the USD/Domestic Ethanol Importer FX Index while the Philippines, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, Peru and Mexico each account for between 5-10% of the index.
USD/Domestic Ethanol Importer FX Index:
The USD/Domestic Ethanol Importer FX Index increased 2.1 points throughout Feb ’20, finishing at a four year high value of 18.7. The USD/Domestic Ethanol Importer FX Index has increased 1.0 point throughout the past six months and 27.3 points since the beginning of 2014. A strong USD/Domestic Ethanol Importer FX Index results in less purchasing power for the traditional buyers of U.S. ethanol (represented in red in the U.S. Ethanol Export Destinations chart), ultimately resulting in less foreign demand, all other factors being equal. USD appreciation against the Canadian dollar and Brazilian real has accounted for the majority of the gains since the beginning of 2014.
USD appreciation within the USD/Domestic Ethanol Importer FX Index during Feb ’20 was led by gains against the Brazilian real, followed by gains against the Canadian dollar, Jamaican dollar, Peruvian sol and euro.