09-05-2025
UK bioethanol industry blindsided by American trade deal
The future of Britain's bioethanol industry has been thrown into doubt by the UK's trade deal with America, putting hundreds of jobs at risk, the two leading manufacturers of the fuel have warned.
Sir Keir Starmer's decision to allow tariff-free access for large volumes of ethanol from American producers completely blindsided Britain's domestic industry, which fears it will be unable to compete with lower-cost US exports.
That threatens the viability of the plants operated by Ensus UK, which is based in Redcar, and Vivergo Fuels, which is owned by Associated British Foods and operates at Saltend, near Hull.
• Tariffs, tax and trust: the US trade deal's unanswered questions
The companies are seeking urgent talks with the government.
In a statement, a spokesman for Ensus,
