China Halts Expansion of Corn Ethanol Industry; Focus on Biomass Feedstocks

China has suspended further expansion of its corn ethanol industry in order to halt a rapid increase in corn prices, which climbed almost 5% in November.

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has ordered local governments to stop approving new projects that process corn for industrial uses, to use non-grain feedstocks to produce biofuels (e.g., cellulosic ethanol from biomass), and to develop the industry more effectively.

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