# Explained: Why could a weak monsoon derail India's ambitious ethanol blending programme?

> India's monsoon rainfall fell nearly 13% below normal, pushing the government to prioritise food security over ethanol output. Ethanol's share of fuel is expected to fall below the 20% E20 target, increasing reliance on imported crude.

- Date: 2026-11-04 · published 2026-11-05T09:15:06.306Z
- Category: policy · region India · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/81560-explained-why-could-a-weak-monsoon-derail-india-s-ambitious-ethanol-blending
- Commodities: [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md), [Rough Rice](https://feedsoft.ai/c/RICE.md), [Crude Oil (WTI)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/WTI.md)

## Why it matters

Lower ethanol output diverts grain and cane away from fuel use toward food, and higher crude import needs add energy-price pressure for feed and fuel costs.

## Read by commodity

- WTI: bullish ▲
- CORN: bullish ▲
- RICE: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CORN | 2024-09-18 | [Grain Journal \| Op-Ed: EPA’s 18-month blunder on biofuel blending…](https://feedsoft.ai/events/15184-grain-journal-op-ed-epa-s-18-month-blunder-on-biofuel-blending.md) | -1.2% | -3.1% |
| CORN | 2022-05-16 | [Explainer: What India's u-turn on wheat exports means for world markets](https://feedsoft.ai/events/41430-explainer-what-india-s-u-turn-on-wheat-exports-means-for-world-markets.md) | +0.1% | +0.3% |
| CORN | 2025-08-12 | [Proposed ethanol-blending targets signal strong future for sorghum farmers](https://feedsoft.ai/events/23393-proposed-ethanol-blending-targets-signal-strong-future-for-sorghum-farmers.md) | +0.0% | +4.3% |
| CORN | 2025-07-28 | [Rate Difference in Grain-Based and Sugarcane-Based Ethanol Production Affecting Sector: Official – Outlook Business](https://feedsoft.ai/events/23740-rate-difference-in-grain-based-and-sugarcane-based-ethanol-production-affecting.md) | +0.5% | +0.7% |
| CORN | 2024-09-04 | [Ethanol push turns India into corn importer, shaking up global market](https://feedsoft.ai/events/28323-ethanol-push-turns-india-into-corn-importer-shaking-up-global-market.md) | -1.4% | +4.9% |
| RICE | 2023-11-04 | [India to extend free food grains programme by five years, says Modi \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/33137-india-to-extend-free-food-grains-programme-by-five-years-says-modi-reuters.md) | +4.2% | +4.2% |
| RICE | 2022-09-09 | [India restricts rice exports after below-average monsoon rainfall](https://feedsoft.ai/events/39559-india-restricts-rice-exports-after-below-average-monsoon-rainfall.md) | +5.0% | -0.5% |
| RICE | 2022-09-11 | [What government curbs on exporting rice mean for India and the world \| Explained News - The Indian Express](https://feedsoft.ai/events/39668-what-government-curbs-on-exporting-rice-mean-for-india-and-the-world-explained.md) | +2.9% | -2.9% |

## Sources

- livemint.com: https://www.livemint.com/economy/explained-why-could-a-weak-monsoon-derail-indias-ambitious-ethanol-blending-programme-11793813052772.html

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.