The growth of domestic ethanol consumption looks a little uncertain these days, thanks largely to federal proposal to reduce biofuel requirements in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). But demand for U.S. ethanol in export markets is surging.

‘A very good year’

"I’d say 2014 is looking like a very good year for ethanol exports," said Chad Hart, Iowa State University (ISU) Extension crop specialist.

"While the domestic markets are pretty saturated, we’ve got a pretty broad-based demand for ethanol in the export market right now."

Exports of U.S. ethanol for the first quarter of...