Pilibhit: As of the end of August, ethanol production from grain-based feedstocks in India has reached 623 crore litres. This figure represents nearly 70% of the total supplies for the Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2025-26, according to data released by the All India Distillers’ Association (AIDA) on Saturday.
Maize emerged as the largest individual feedstock contributor at 345 crore litres, followed by surplus FCI rice at 214 crore litres and damaged food grains at 64 crore litres.
Bharati Balaji, deputy director general of AIDA, said, “The figures reveal the growing role of grain-based production pathways in India’s ethanol programme. Together, these streams highlight the domestic ethanol industry’s expanding capacity to utilise diverse agricultural resources to support renewable fuel production and strengthen supply resilience. ” Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra were the top grain-based ethanol-producing states, according to AIDA. Balaji said the size of the production and supply network meant the focus now needed to shift towards increasing demand through flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs), compressed biogas (CBG), sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and other applications.
“A predictable policy framework to support demand alongside production was essential for sustaining investment, strengthening farmer-linked value chains and advancing energy-security objectives,” she said.