Last week, the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USGBC) invited ethanol industry leaders from Mexico and Latin America (LTA) to the Renewable Fuels Association’s (RFA’s) National Ethanol Conference 2026 (NEC) in Orlando, FL. The conference is recognized throughout the sector for its up-to-date and timely information on the marketing, legislative and regulatory issues facing the industry.
This year, the NEC featured visionary farmers, investors and builders who founded the modern ethanol industry sharing stories of how ethanol has transformed rural America. Experts also provided updates on renewable fuels policy and regulation, the possibility of nationwide year-round E15 blending, global trade, carbon markets and biofuels’ application in aviation and maritime fuels.
Council staff based in its Washington, D.C., headquarters, Mexico City, Mexico and Panama City, Panama offices joined to link customers and other industry officials to U.S. producers and learn about the quality and benefits of U.S. biofuels.
“Inviting journalists to NEC was also a point of emphasis, to provide them with more knowledge about the benefits of E10 implementation in Mexico, and to be able to transmit that information to key audiences in the country,” said Galo Galeana, USGBC ethanol consultant.
“The NEC represents an ideal international environment for them to learn from and gather experience on specific subjects that can have an impact on the process to adopt a biofuels public policy in Mexico.”
The Council’s initial objectives have been to lift the ban on ethanol in Mexico’s three largest cities and promote the harmonization of Mexican gasoline specifications with U.S. regulatory standards with the broader goal of E10 approval in the country.
The LTA delegation included key stakeholders from the automotive and motorcycle sectors in the region and facilitated technical discussions and networking to help participants understand the performance and benefits of ethanol-gasoline blends.
“By strengthening understanding of ethanol’s longstanding role in transportation and vehicle compatibility, attendees can highlight E10 fuel’s compatibility with all modern vehicles while showcasing the technical viability of higher blending rates when supported by proper regulatory frameworks,” said Federico Salcedo, USGBC LTA ethanol strategy lead.
“The Council’s outreach to ethanol markets in the region responds to growing interest in reliable, high performance lower-carbon fuels that can be integrated into existing vehicle fleets, improving air quality without friction for consumers.”
Learn more about the Council’s work in ethanol here.