Maize Emerges as India’s Largest Ethanol Feedstock

Maize has become India’s single-largest feedstock for ethanol production as of 12 May 2026, with maize-based ethanol reaching 182 crore litres in the first half of Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2025-26. India’s cumulative ethanol supplies crossed 515 crore litres in the same period, covering nearly 49% of the contracted volume of 1,059 crore litres.

Ethanol Feedstock in India

Ethanol in India is produced from sugarcane-based feedstocks and grain-based feedstocks. Grain-based distilleries contributed about 333 crore litres to the national ethanol pool from November 2025 to April 2026, and maize was the largest contributor among grains. Maize is a cereal crop of the family Poaceae and is used in food, feed, starch, and industrial alcohol production. Sugarcane is a tropical crop that has traditionally supplied a large share of India’s ethanol output.

Maize and Water Use

Maize has a shorter growing cycle than sugarcane and can be cultivated in multiple seasons in many parts of India. It requires less irrigation water than sugarcane, which makes it suitable for grain-based ethanol expansion in water-stressed regions. India’s ethanol blending programme has an E20 target, which refers to 20% ethanol blending with petrol. Higher blending levels require larger and more diversified feedstock supplies.

Policy and Production Targets

The Uttar Pradesh government has set a target to raise maize cultivation to 11.3 lakh hectares in 2026-27 to meet demand from the ethanol industry. Uttar Pradesh is one of India’s major maize-producing states and also has a large number of grain-based distilleries. The All India Distillers’ Association is an industry body representing distillers and ethanol producers in India. Its data for ESY 2025-26 placed maize ahead of sugarcane in ethanol supply volumes.

Important Facts for Exams

• Ethanol Supply Year in India runs from November to October.
• Maize is also called corn and belongs to the grass family Poaceae.
• Sugarcane is a major source of molasses-based ethanol in India.
• E20 means 20% ethanol blending in petrol.

Global Context

The United States Environmental Protection Agency issued the final Renewable Fuel Standard rule for 2026 and 2027 on 11 May 2026, keeping the conventional ethanol requirement at 15 billion gallons. The United States Treasury Department proposed changes to the Clean Fuel Production Tax Credit, known as 45Z, on 6 February 2026. Under the proposed 45Z changes, tax credits were set at 1.00 per gallon for non-aviation ethanol and 1.75 per gallon for Sustainable Aviation Fuel. Corn is the main feedstock for ethanol in the United States.