WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — The utilization of distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) — a co-product of ethanol production used as a feed ingredient for livestock — is gaining popularity in markets around the world, said the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) on May 6. Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) funds support U.S. producers’ and agribusiness efforts in the development, maintenance and expansion of U.S. corn, barley, sorghum and related co-product exports through the USGC.

In the 2010 marketing year, many notable markets drastically increased their imports of U.S. DDGS. These markets include Chile, Morocco, Egypt, China, Japan and Thailand.


The council conducts educational seminars and feeding trials around the world to increase familiarity and usage of the U.S. feed ingredient.

MAP and FMD funds have allowed the council to actively promote DDGS around the world, increasing demand for the product and thus increasing exports to reach 7.2 million tonnes in 2010 for a total of $1.4 billion in sales.

In the current September-August marketing year through February, exports of DDGS total 4.4 million tonnes, valued at $864,000. This is a 25% increase from the same time period of the previous year.