Rising ethanol demand outpaces corn, sugarcane output, study finds

Researchers point out a widening gap between the rapid growth of ethanol demand – projected to climb from 173 crore litres in 2019‑20 to about 1,200 crore litres by 2025‑26, a CAGR of roughly 38 % – and the slower expansion of key agricultural feedstocks. Corn production grew at an 11.4 % CAGR, while sugarcane and rice rose at 5.1 % and 4.4 % respectively, intensifying the food‑versus‑fuel dilemma.