Representatives from the U.S. Grains Council, Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association recently conducted a strategic mission to Southeast Asia (SEA), underscoring the U.S. ethanol industry’s support for ethanol policy and technical advancement in Vietnam and the Philippines.The delegation – including USGC Regional Director for Southeast Asia and Oceania (SEA&amp;O) Caleb Wurth, Growth Energy Vice President Jake Comer and RFA Director Cassie Mullen – joined government officials, oil companies and local industry leaders for two technical fuel workshops in Ho Chi Minh City and Manila. The workshops are part of the U.S. ethanol industry’s broader strategy to provide technical support, foster policy development and reinforce ethanol’s role in clean transportation and energy diversification across the region.In Vietnam, the U.S. delegation partnered with the Vietnam Petroleum Association (VINPA) to attract more than 120 delegates for the day-long session, including representatives from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Construction, VINPA, state-owned fuel companies and private sector stakeholders. The agenda focused on best practices in retail infrastructure, fuel dispensing technology, ethanol supply chain integrity and consumer sentiment.Presentations by U.S., Vietnamese and Singaporean experts provided evidence that higher ethanol blends such as E10 are compatible with current infrastructure and consumer vehicles, especially motorcycles, which dominate Vietnam’s transport fleet.Key Vietnamese speakers included representatives from the Vietnam Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers and Vero Communications, who presented research on motorcycle compatibility with ethanol-blended fuels and consumer sentiment on ethanol-blended fuels, respectively.The delegation then traveled to Manila for the Philippines E20 Retail Fuel Workshop, hosted in partnership with the Philippines Department of Energy (DOE). DOE Undersecretary Alessandro O. Sales opened the program alongside U.S. Agricultural Attaché Herpin Rochet Jateng.The workshop convened roughly 100 fuel retailers, technical advisors, policymakers and downstream fuel industry players to address implementation strategies for the E20 discretionary policy promulgated in 2024 that allows for the sale of E20 gasoline alongside the existing E10 mandate.Presentations from Growth Energy, RFA and SGS INSPIRE highlighted infrastructure and vehicle compatibility, safety and cost efficiency of E20 fuel in the Philippines, while the Southwest Research Institute presented U.S. and global research evaluating E20 compatibility in vehicle fleets. The workshop solidified the U.S. ethanol industry’s technical leadership role in supporting fuel policy evolution and reinforced the local industry’s growing confidence in the long-term feasibility of E20 fuel blends.“The workshops in Vietnam and the Philippines underscore how targeted technical engagement – tailored to local conditions – builds trust and unlocks policy progress,” Wurth said. “These engagements not only help demonstrate ethanol’s technical readiness in these ecosystems but also establish long-term partnerships with the U.S. ethanol industry that align with Southeast Asia’s clean fuel and energy security ambitions.”Learn more about the Council’s work in SEA&amp;O&nbsp;<a href="https://grains.org/news-events/newsroom/#region=212">here</a>.&nbsp;

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Representatives from the USGC, Growth Energy and the RFA recently conducted a strategic mission to Southeast Asia (SEA), underscoring the U.S. ethanol industry’s support for ethanol policy and technical advancement in Vietnam and the Philippines.

USGC: US ethanol industry strengthens ties in Southeast Asia through technical fuel workshops

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