| Using Market Access Program (MAP) funds, the U.S. Grains Council Taiwan Office used a combination of policy engagement, research partnerships, media outreach, and hands-on demonstrations to position U.S. ethanol as a key solution for Taiwan’s net-zero goals in transportation decarbonization.
Strategic Policy Engagement and Alliance Building The Council convened high-level policy dialogues with key government agencies, including the Executive Yuan’s Office of Energy & Carbon Reduction, Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC), the Ministry of Environment, CPC Taiwan and the Civil Aeronautics Administration, to advocate for the inclusion of low-carbon fuels in national transport policy. Discussions emphasized ethanol and SAF’s roles in complementing electrification strategies, especially in aviation and legacy vehicle fleets.
To solidify institutional collaboration, the Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with CPC Taiwan, aiming to develop joint initiatives in ethanol-blended gasoline (E10) and SAF. Two dedicated task forces, the Ethanol Gasoline Promotion Committee and ATJ-SAF Technology Promotion Committee, were established to guide pilot programs and technology assessments, with public agencies serving as policy advisors.
Research and Policy Recommendations In partnership with the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research (CIER), the Council outlined three key research directions:
These insights form the basis for future policy proposals and pilot programs.
Media Campaigns and Public Awareness Following the Taiwan-U.S. Sustainability & Net-Zero Conference co-hosted with American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), the Council launched a large-scale media campaign:
This campaign helped build public support for ethanol as part of Taiwan’s climate action toolkit.
Hands-On Demonstration: Ethanol in Motorcycles In December 2024, USGC, Yamaha Motor, CPC Taiwan and AIT co-hosted a motorcycle demonstration featuring E10 and E100 ethanol fuels at Yamaha’s R&D center. Government officials, legislators, researchers, and media witnessed firsthand the performance, safety and feasibility of ethanol in daily transportation. The event bolstered confidence in ethanol and sparked policy momentum for broader adoption in Taiwan’s vehicle market.
Results & ROI U.S. ethanol exports to Taiwan increased from 138 million gallons (MY 2022/23) to 378 million gallons (MY 2023/24)—a 240-million-gallon increase, valued at $1.137 million. The Council invested $139,337 of MAP funds, achieving an ROI of $8.16 for every $1 of MAP funds invested.  Through research, strategic partnerships, public outreach, and policy advocacy, the Council’s Taiwan Office has positioned U.S. ethanol as a key contributor to Taiwan’s net-zero future. These initiatives not only supported U.S. agricultural exports but also strengthened long-term U.S.-Taiwan energy cooperation, setting a foundation for the expanded adoption of U.S. ethanol in the Taiwan transportation sector.
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