Ethanol’s share of the U.S. gasoline supply reached a historic milestone in October 2025, reinforcing renewed calls from agriculture and biofuel groups to expand access to higher ethanol blends nationwide. Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration show ethanol accounted for 11.06 percent of the nation’s gasoline that month, marking the first time the monthly blend rate has topped 11 percent.
The Renewable Fuels Association said the record-high blend rate reflects growing consumer use of E15 and flex fuels like E85, challenging long-standing arguments that ethanol cannot exceed a ten percent share of the fuel pool. According to the association, expanded availability of higher ethanol blends and strong consumer demand are helping ethanol continue to gain market share in the U.S. fuel market.
“The new data provides clear evidence that ethanol is continuing to gain market share in the U.S. fuel market as drivers increasingly choose lower-cost, cleaner-burning E15 and flex fuels like E85,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “The numbers also prove that the fictitious ‘blend wall’ is nothing but an imaginary barrier created by those who oppose American-made renewable fuels produced from American-grown crops.”
As ethanol usage reaches new highs, pressure is mounting on Congress to act on legislation allowing year-round nationwide sales of E15. A coalition of more than 70 biofuel and agricultural organizations recently sent a letter to congressional leadership urging immediate passage of the measure, arguing it would provide savings of ten to 30 cents per gallon for drivers while strengthening markets for U.S. farmers.
“The USDA projects a record 16.8-billion-bushel corn harvest in 2025, up roughly 13 percent from 2024, which intensifies pressure on corn prices and farm incomes,” the groups wrote. “Expanding E15 access is one of the most immediate and practical ways to address this imbalance.”
The organizations emphasized that fully scaled, year-round E15 sales could create new domestic demand for billions of bushels of corn and sorghum, helping stabilize grain markets, support farm incomes, and deliver consumer savings at the pump. They also noted that expanding ethanol use aligns with broader goals of energy security and increased reliance on American-made fuels.
The letter was led by Growth Energy, the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Corn Growers Association, and the Renewable Fuels Association. Together, the groups argue that the October blend-rate record underscores ethanol’s growing role in the nation’s fuel supply and strengthens the case for making year-round E15 a permanent option for consumers nationwide.
