India’s cumulative ethanol receipts reached 9.87 bn litres by the end of September in Ethanol Supply Year 2025-26, with grain-based feedstocks accounting for 71.4 per cent of the total, the All India Distillers’ Association (AIDA) said. Receipts by oil marketing companies represented 82.5 per cent of the total contracted allocation of 11.97 bn litres.

Grain-based feedstocks supplied 7.05 bn litres against an allocation of 9.08 bn litres, representing a fulfilment rate of 77.6 per cent. Maize was the largest individual contributor, providing 4.13 bn litres, or more than 41 per cent of total receipts, against an allocation of 6.14 bn litres.

Surplus rice held by the Food Corporation of India supplied 2.22 bn litres against an allocation of 2.33 bn litres. Damaged food grains contributed 700 mn litres, exceeding their allocation of 600 mn litres.

Sugar-based feedstocks supplied 2.82 bn litres against an allocation of 2.89 bn litres, achieving a fulfilment rate of 97.6 per cent. Sugarcane juice accounted for 1.51 bn litres against an allocation of 1.66 bn litres, while B-heavy molasses supplied 1.15 bn litres compared with 1.11 bn litres allocated.

C-heavy molasses supplied 160 mn litres against an allocation of 120 mn litres. AIDA Deputy General Bharati Balaji said a robust, multi-feedstock supply network would support long-term energy security, while policy continuity and broader applications for ethanol would help sustain investment and agricultural value chains. She identified flex-fuel vehicles, sustainable aviation fuel and compressed biogas as potential avenues for wider use.