South Korean ethanol imports for March increased 23.6% month on month, but fell 13.6% year on year, to 19,775 mt, customs data released Sunday showed.
The increase was primarily due to higher undenatured ethanol imports, which rose 36.4% month on month to 11,233 mt in March. Denatured ethanol imports rose 10% month on month to 8,542 mt in March.
Denatured ethanol is ethanol added with a chemical which makes unfit for human consumption. Vietnam exported the highest volume of denatured ethanol to South Korea, at 2,014 mt in March. Pakistan was the source of 19% of denatured ethanol imports in March, while India was the source of 18.4% imports in the same period.
For undenatured ethanol, the biggest source was Brazil which exported 9,863 mt to South Korea in March. Vietnam took second place, accounting for 11.8% of undenatured ethanol imports, or 1,323 mt, into South Korea in March.
Undenatured ethanol is ethanol that is without the denaturant that makes it unfit for human consumption, and is usually hydrous and for potable consumption. Denatured ethanol is used for industrial purposes and fuel-blending. Denatured ethanol is used in industries and in the medical sectors.
