Key facts
- The U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USGBC) promoted ethanol as a sustainable marine fuel at Maritime Week Americas 2026.
- USGBC representatives met with Panamanian maritime authorities and industry leaders.
- Discussions focused on ethanol's potential to reduce the carbon impact of maritime shipping.
- US producers showcased their capabilities to supply inputs for maritime fuel demand.
- Panamanian maritime shipping leaders visited Illinois and Texas to learn about US bioethanol production.
The U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USGBC) and ethanol industry stakeholders participated in Maritime Week Americas 2026, highlighting the potential of ethanol as a sustainable marine fuel. Ankit Chandra, USGBC's senior manager of global ethanol export development, and Federico Salcedo, Latin America ethanol strategy lead, along with representatives from Growth Energy, Marquis Energy, and POET, engaged with Panamanian maritime leaders.
Chandra emphasized ethanol's role in reducing carbon emissions in transportation sectors, including maritime shipping, positioning it as a dependable, affordable, and available fuel supply. The delegation toured the Panama Canal and met with officials from the Panama Maritime Chamber, the Panamanian Ministry of the Environment, and the Latin America Regional Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre (MTCC).
A workshop co-hosted by the Council and Growth Energy focused on ethanol's applications in marine fuel and the capabilities of U.S. producers to supply the shipping industry. Sessions covered corn production scales, fleet readiness for ethanol integration, and its carbon reduction potential. Chandra noted the strong interest from logistics companies in transitioning to less carbon-intensive fuels and positioned U.S. ethanol at the forefront of these discussions.
Subsequently, the USGBC led a group of Panamanian maritime shipping leaders to Illinois and Texas. This visit aimed to educate them on how U.S. bioethanol can support the maritime sector's decarbonization goals by serving as a reliable, high-quality feedstock for sustainable marine fuel.