IMO sets carbon footprint for Brazil corn ethanol at 20.8 g CO2e per MJ, opening shipping market to biofuels

The International Maritime Organization has defined the default carbon footprint of Brazilian corn ethanol at 20.8 grams of CO2 equivalent per megajoule, specifically for fuel made from the country's second corn crop. This is a key step as the IMO builds regulations for lower carbon fuels in shipping, where the current average fuel intensity is 93.3 g CO2e per MJ. Brazil's corn ethanol output has grown to almost 10 billion liters in the 2025/26 season, up from 2.65 billion liters at the start of the decade. Industry executives say the shipping market could absorb huge volumes, with one estimating the global bunker market at 400 billion liters in ethanol equivalent. Producers are also investing in carbon capture and industrial efficiency to further reduce emissions.