United States exports of an ethanol byproduct used for livestock feed reached its second highest level ever in 2016. Renewable Fuel Association’s Senior Vice President Geoff Cooper says D-D-G exports were over 11 million metric tons last year.

He says for the past ten years, demand for U.S. DDG’s have grown and increased livestock and poultry expansion this year could lead to even more demand this year.

Cooper says the biggest challenge to DDG exports lies with trade policy and push back from China.

He says China was the leading customer for U.S. dried distillers grains in 2015 and was leading in 2016 prior to the trade disruption at the end of the year when they placed countervailing duties on the product.