Maize Becomes India’s Largest Ethanol
Feedstock
¨
As of 12 May 2026, maize
became India’s single-largest feedstock for ethanol production.
¨
Maize-based ethanol
production reached 182 crore litres during the first half of Ethanol Supply
Year (ESY) 2025-26.
¨
India’s cumulative
ethanol supply crossed 515 crore litres in the same period.
¨
This covered nearly 49%
of the contracted ethanol volume of 1,059 crore litres.
¨
Ethanol in India is
produced from sugarcane-based and grain-based feedstocks.
¨
Grain-based distilleries
supplied around 333 crore litres of ethanol between November 2025 and April
2026.
¨
Among grains, maize
emerged as the largest contributor.
¨
Maize is a cereal crop
belonging to the Poaceae family.
¨
It is used for food,
animal feed, starch production, and industrial alcohol production.
¨
Sugarcane has
traditionally been the major source of ethanol production in India.
¨
Maize has a shorter crop
cycle than sugarcane and can be cultivated in multiple seasons in many parts of
India.
¨
It requires less irrigation
water than sugarcane, making it suitable for ethanol expansion in
water-stressed regions.
¨
Increased use of maize
helps diversify ethanol feedstock sources.
¨
India is implementing the
E20 target under the ethanol blending programme.
¨ E20 refers to 20% blending of ethanol with petrol.
¨ Higher blending targets require larger ethanol production, diversified feedstock supplies, and expansion of grain-based ethanol capacity.
