University of Illinois estimates average of 7 cents per gallon ethanol profitability

In Illinois, the University of Illinois farmdoc estimates the average Iowa ethanol plant saw an average of 7 cents per gallon profit in 2015, with 10 cents during the beginning of the year, 3 cents towards the later half of the year, and losses the last four weeks of the year primarily due to low ethanol prices despite low, steady corn prices. That’s a major turn around from 2014 that saw average profits of 54 cents per gallon, and an overall lower pre-tax profit of $6.8 million compared to $55 million the year prior.