BioPower Plans 39M Bushels of Annual U.S. Corn Purchases

BioPower Energy’s memorandum of understanding sets an initial guaranteed minimum of 1 million metric tons, or 39 million bushels, in annual purchases from U.S. suppliers, with the goal of supplying 50% to 100% of feedstock for a planned biorefinery in the United Arab Emirates.

The Oct. 16, 2026, agreement was signed during Export Exchange 2026 in Seattle. U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council Chairman Jay Reiners signed for the council; BioPower Energy Solutions CEO Sameer Salgar signed for the venture. Chris Riker, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service deputy administrator for trade policy and geographical affairs, observed the ceremony.

BioPower Energy is a joint venture of Quazar Investment and Petron Scientech. It plans to build, own and operate a fully integrated biorefinery in the UAE. The announcement describes planned procurement, not completed shipments or operating refinery output, and it gives no construction or startup date.

What do the purchase figures establish?

The MOU carries two distinct figures: a sourcing range of 50% to 100% of BioPower Energy’s feedstock needs and an initial guaranteed annual minimum of 1 million metric tons, equal to 39 million bushels. Reiners tied the agreement to “continuous and stable growth of U.S. corn purchases,” confirming its corn-export focus even though the announcement uses the broader procurement term “feedstock.”

Price, contract duration, grade specifications, delivery schedules and freight terms were not disclosed. The release also did not name U.S. producing regions, cooperatives or grain handlers, and it supplied no acreage, yield or harvest baseline. For growers, the economic test is whether the plan becomes firm orders at prices that cover production, handling and transportation costs.

Any effect on basis or farm margins therefore remains contingent. If BioPower converts the MOU into commercial purchases, the volume could give corn sellers another export outlet; if construction or procurement falls short, the guaranteed-minimum language will not translate into marketed U.S. grain. Until then, the 39 million bushels represent potential demand, not booked sales.

What does USDA attendance mean?

Riker’s presence placed the signing within the federal trade-policy orbit, but the announcement did not identify a USDA purchase, subsidy, guarantee or regulatory approval. Riker was an observer, while Reiners and Salgar signed the MOU. That distinction matters because government attendance can signal interest without establishing public support or a guaranteed export program.

What did Reiners say?\n

Reiners said: “This MOU is an outstanding example of international collaboration that benefits all parties. The Council is proud to be part of this joint effort to promote the continuous and stable growth of U.S. corn purchases while helping provide renewable fuels and reduced greenhouse gas emissions in the UAE and markets around the world.”

The statement links the purchase plan to renewable-fuel supply and lower greenhouse-gas emissions, but neither Reiners nor the announcement provided an emissions estimate, fuel-volume target or cost comparison. The measurable export commitment remains the proposed annual minimum, subject to execution.

What role does the council play?

The council develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products, including distillers dried grains with solubles and ethanol. It has nine international offices, representation in 30 countries and programming in more than 70 countries. It says its partnerships support global economic development and contribute to the profitability of U.S. agriculture.

BioPower’s agreement adds a prospective UAE market to that network, though the council’s wider product portfolio does not establish how much of the 1 million tons would be corn, distillers dried grains or ethanol. The council represents market development; the MOU describes one buyer’s procurement intention.

For the 39-million-bushel proposal to affect corn basis and grower margins, BioPower must convert its stated intent into disclosed orders and shipments; until then, the agreement represents potential demand rather than realized U.S. exports.