U.S. Bioenergy Statistics

The United States produces and consumes renewable energy sourced from agriculture and forestlands on a commercial scale that impacts energy markets. Among these renewable energy sources are biofuels, an important component of fuel consumption in the U.S. transport sector. Significant biofuels include ethanol (made mostly from corn), and biodiesel and renewable diesel (which are made from vegetable oils as well as animal fats, waste oils, and greases). In 2021, U.S. ethanol production totaled about 15 billion gallons and combined biodiesel/renewable diesel production totaled about 2.5 billion gallons.

With the U.S. Bioenergy Statistics, the USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) combines data from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration and USDA agricultural data sources (including the National Agricultural Statistics Service and ERS) to create a value-added product whose statistics highlight the biofuel-based demand for agricultural feedstocks. For example, the tables in this statistics product show the amount of corn used to produce ethanol; fuel ethanol and biodiesel production capacity and utilization; and prices and consumption of bioenergy and traditional energy sources. Where appropriate, data are presented on both a calendar-year and the relevant marketing-year basis to increase utility to feedstock-oriented users.

ERS analysts track U.S. ethanol and biodiesel/renewable diesel production, consumption, and trade—and monitor and analyze U.S. bioenergy policy and events that affect the domestic and international biofuel and feedstock markets. Additional tables may be added when appropriate.