UPSC Prelims 2025 Q63: Ethanol Production in Brazil vs USA — Explained
Consider the following statements:
Statement I: Of the two major ethanol producers in the world, i.e., Brazil and the United States of America, the former produces more ethanol than the latter.
Statement II: Unlike in the United States of America where corn is the principal feedstock for ethanol production, sugarcane is the principal feedstock for ethanol production in Brazil.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
- Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I
- Both Statement I and Statement II are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement I
- Statement I is correct but Statement II is not correct
- Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct
Answer: (d) Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct
Statement-wise explanation
- Statement I: incorrect — The United States, not Brazil, is the world's largest ethanol producer. The OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2023-2032 puts the US share of world ethanol output at about 46%. It says Brazil made about 26% in 2022, which makes Brazil second. The US has led since the mid-2000s, when its corn-ethanol output passed Brazil's.
- Statement II: correct — US ethanol is made mostly from maize (corn), a starch crop. Brazil's ethanol comes mainly from sugarcane, and Brazil is the world's largest producer of sugarcane ethanol. Corn ethanol is growing in Brazil's centre-west, but sugarcane is still the main feedstock. Because Statement I is false, Statement II cannot explain it. The feedstock difference does not make Brazil the bigger producer.
How to eliminate
This question turns on one fact: the US produces more ethanol than Brazil, roughly twice as much. Brazil's fame comes from ethanol use, not total output. It has sold sugarcane ethanol since the Proálcool programme of 1975, mandates about 27% blending, and most of its cars are flex-fuel. That reputation tempts candidates to call Statement I true. Statement II is the safer half: corn for the US and sugarcane for Brazil is basic economic geography (the US Corn Belt, Brazil's place as the top sugarcane grower). Once Statement II is fixed as true, only two answer choices are left: both statements true, or only Statement II true. To choose between them, remember that the US makes the most ethanol and Brazil blends the most. In Statement I/II questions, the 'explains' link only matters when both statements are true.
Know more
Ethanol is an alcohol fuel made by fermenting sugars. The sugar can come from sugary crops (sugarcane, sugar beet, molasses) or from starchy grains (maize, rice, damaged food grain). Starch must first be broken down into sugar. Second-generation (2G) ethanol uses cellulose from crop residue such as rice straw.
| United States | Brazil | India | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank in production | 1st (about 45–50% of world) | 2nd (about 25–30%) | 3rd, far smaller |
| Main feedstock | Maize (corn) | Sugarcane (juice and molasses) | Molasses, cane juice, then grain (maize, FCI rice) |
| Typical blend | E10 nationwide | E27 mandate, high flex-fuel fleet | E20 reached in 2025 |
Why the US leads: it has a huge corn surplus, the Renewable Fuel Standard mandate, and many large dry-mill plants.
Why Brazil is famous: it started the Proálcool programme in 1975, it has a high blend mandate, and it sells flex-fuel cars that run on any petrol–ethanol mix. Sugarcane ethanol also gives more energy per hectare and lower lifecycle emissions than corn ethanol.
India's link: the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme reached 20% blending in 2025. India first relied on cane molasses and then added grain-based ethanol, mainly maize. This has raised a food-versus-fuel debate over maize area and prices.
Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA): launched in September 2023 at the G20 Summit in New Delhi. India, the US and Brazil lead it as the major biofuel producers and consumers.
Exam trap: the biggest user or blender is not always the biggest producer. Brazil blends the highest share, but the US makes the most ethanol.
In the news
India, the US and Brazil launched the Global Biofuels Alliance at the G20 New Delhi Summit in September 2023. India also reached its E20 blending target ahead of schedule in 2025. Both events kept the three countries' ethanol production and feedstocks in the news before Prelims 2025.
NCERT Concepts to Revise
- Ethanol blending: Brazil is famous for heavy ethanol blending; separating blending share from total output is the key to judging Statement I.