Correct Option
Statement I is incorrect. The United States of America is the largest producer of ethanol globally, followed by Brazil. While both are major producers, the United States consistently produces a significantly higher volume of ethanol than Brazil. For instance, recent data indicates the United States produces approximately 16.1 billion gallons, whereas Brazil produces around 8.8 billion gallons.
Statement II is correct. In the United States, corn is the primary feedstock utilized for ethanol production. In contrast, Brazil's ethanol industry predominantly relies on sugarcane as its feedstock. This distinction in raw materials is a fundamental characteristic of their respective ethanol production processes.
Incorrect Options
Options (a) and (b) are incorrect because Statement I is factually inaccurate. The United States produces more ethanol than Brazil, not the other way around.
Option (c) is incorrect because Statement II accurately identifies the principal feedstocks for ethanol production in the United States and Brazil, making it a correct statement.