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Consider the following statements : Statement I : Of the two major ethanol producers in the world, i.e., Brazil and the United States of America, the former produces more ethanol than the latter. Statement II : Unlike in the United States of America where corn is the principal feedstock for ethanol production, sugarcane is the principal feedstock for ethanol production in Brazil. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Explanation
**Statement I is incorrect.** The United States is the world's largest producer of ethanol, having produced over 15 billion gallons in 2021[1] and 2022. In comparison, Brazil's corn ethanol is expected to reach 10 billion liters (2.64 billion gallons) by 2025/26, and sugarcane ethanol has remained relatively stable at around 28 billion liters (7.4 billion gallons) annually[2], giving Brazil a total of roughly 10 billion gallons. Therefore, the United States produces more ethanol than Brazil, not the other way around.
**Statement II is correct.** Sugarcane ethanol has remained relatively stable at around 28 billion liters annually in Brazil, while corn ethanol is expected to account for nearly one-third of Brazil's total ethanol production[2], confirming sugarcane remains the principal feedstock in Brazil. Additionally, sugarcane juice can be used to prepare molasses which is fermented to give alcohol (ethanol), and some countries now use alcohol as an additive in petrol[3]. The United States primarily uses corn for ethanol production, as it is the dominant corn-based ethanol producer globally.
Sources- [1] https://afdc.energy.gov/data/10331
- [2] https://farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2025/04/ethanol-boom-drives-sharp-rise-in-brazils-corn-consumption.html
- [3] Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Carbon and its Compounds > Alcohol as a fuel > p. 73
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Guest previewThis is a classic 'Comparative Economic Geography' question. It fuses static agricultural knowledge (Crop distribution: Corn vs Sugarcane) with industrial output rankings (Energy production). While books confirm the feedstock, the production ranking requires current economic awareness or logical derivation from the scale of US agriculture.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"sugarcane ethanol has remained relatively stable at around 28 billion liters (7.4 billion gallons) annually, on average ... Corn ethanol is expected to account for nearly one-third of Brazil’s total ethanol production by the 2025/26 season, reaching 10 billion liters (2.64 billion gallons)"
Why this source?
- Provides Brazil's recent/2025-era ethanol volumes broken down by feedstock and gives gallon equivalents.
- Shows Brazil's sugarcane ethanol ~28 billion liters (7.4 billion gallons) plus corn ethanol ~10 billion liters (2.64 billion gallons), implying Brazil's total ≈ 10.04 billion gallons by 2025/26.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"States is the world's largest producer of ethanol, having produced over 15 billion gallons in 2021 and 2022."
Why this source?
- States the United States is the world's largest ethanol producer and gives a recent annual production figure.
- Reports the U.S. produced over 15 billion gallons in 2021 and 2022, a level higher than Brazil's ~10.04 billion gallons indicated for 2025/26.
- Provides Brazil's recent/2025-era ethanol volumes broken down by feedstock and gives gallon equivalents.
- Shows Brazil's sugarcane ethanol ~28 billion liters (7.4 billion gallons) plus corn ethanol ~10 billion liters (2.64 billion gallons), implying Brazil's total ≈ 10.04 billion gallons by 2025/26.
- States the United States is the world's largest ethanol producer and gives a recent annual production figure.
- Reports the U.S. produced over 15 billion gallons in 2021 and 2022, a level higher than Brazil's ~10.04 billion gallons indicated for 2025/26.
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Maize or Corn (Zea Mays) > p. 23
Strength: 5/5
“Te United States of America (USA) has the highest harvest of maize in the world that contributes nearly 20 per cent of the total production in the world. Te other major countries that contribute signifcantly to the global maize production are China, Brazil, Mexico, India, Indonesia and Argentina (Fig. 12.6). Te USA has the highest average yield about 9.6 tonnes per hectare which is double than the global average productivity of 4.92 tonnes per hectare. Te average yield in Argentina, China, Brazil, Mexico and India are 6.47' 4.85,3.7, 2.53, and 2.43 tonnes per hectare respectively. In India, maize is the fourth most important food crop after rice, wheat and millets.”
Why relevant
States the United States has the highest maize harvest in the world (major feedstock for ethanol).
How to extend
A student could combine this with the outside fact that much U.S. ethanol is corn-based to infer the U.S. has large ethanol-making capacity from maize production.
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > 16. Energy Crops > p. 13
Strength: 4/5
“Crops which are grown to obtain liquid energy such as ethanol and alcohol e.g. sugarcane, potato, maize, tapioca.”
Why relevant
Defines crops used to produce liquid biofuels (ethanol), listing sugarcane and maize among primary feedstocks.
How to extend
Use this rule to link crop-dominance (maize for U.S., sugarcane for Brazil) to each country's likely ethanol production potential.
Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 26: Agriculture > World Production and Distribution Distribution > p. 260
Strength: 5/5
“(a) Raw sugar amounts to 50 million tonnes in 1977. Comes mainly from sugar-cane, of which India (20%), Brazil (16%), Cuba (8.7%) and China (6%) are the leading producers. Others: Mexico, Pakistan, the U.S.A., Thailand, Australia, Philippines and Columbia.
(b) Beet sugar has practically no international trade. Producers are the U.S.S.R. (327o), France (8.57o), the U.S.A. (87o), East and West Germany, Italy, Poland, United Kingdom and Czechoslovakia.”
Why relevant
Notes raw sugar comes mainly from sugarcane and lists Brazil as a leading producer of sugarcane-derived sugar.
How to extend
A student could combine Brazil's strong sugarcane production with the fact that Brazil commonly uses sugarcane for ethanol to infer high ethanol output potential.
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris) > p. 36
Strength: 3/5
“Sugarbeet is also an important sugar-producing crop that stores sugar in roots. It accounts for nearly 22 per cent of the world's total sugar production. It is also potential source of ethanol which is now blended in automobile fuel. Unlike sugarcane, which is a crop of the tropics is essentially a crop of the temperate regions. It is grown for commercial sugar production mainly in European countries; USA”
Why relevant
Mentions sugarbeet and the U.S.A. as a producer, indicating the U.S. also has temperate-region sugar feedstocks usable for ethanol.
How to extend
This suggests the U.S. has multiple ethanol feedstock sources (maize and beet), reinforcing its overall ethanol production capacity when combined with maize data.
States the United States has the highest maize harvest in the world (major feedstock for ethanol).
A student could combine this with the outside fact that much U.S. ethanol is corn-based to infer the U.S. has large ethanol-making capacity from maize production.
Defines crops used to produce liquid biofuels (ethanol), listing sugarcane and maize among primary feedstocks.
Use this rule to link crop-dominance (maize for U.S., sugarcane for Brazil) to each country's likely ethanol production potential.
Notes raw sugar comes mainly from sugarcane and lists Brazil as a leading producer of sugarcane-derived sugar.
A student could combine Brazil's strong sugarcane production with the fact that Brazil commonly uses sugarcane for ethanol to infer high ethanol output potential.
Mentions sugarbeet and the U.S.A. as a producer, indicating the U.S. also has temperate-region sugar feedstocks usable for ethanol.
This suggests the U.S. has multiple ethanol feedstock sources (maize and beet), reinforcing its overall ethanol production capacity when combined with maize data.
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