US ethanol production seen returning to 1 million b/d after maintenance season

In the Midwest, ethanol production is expected to ramp back up to 1 million barrels per day after maintenance season finishes despite margins remaining thin. Production passed 1 million barrels per day in January but has wound down to 927,000 b/d in the week ended April 22 while Platts expects production was 935,000 b/d in the week ended April 29, indicating that April’s maintenance is ending and plants are coming back online. Summer driving season kicks off soon which will help to absorb some of the excess production.