Ethanol production tops 12-week high

In Washington, DC, the Renewable Fuels Association said that ethanol production averaged 1.058 million barrels per day (b/d)—or 44.44 million gallons daily, according to data they analyzed from the EIA. The 18,000 b/d gain elevated output to a 12-week high, with plants producing 3% more than this week last year and 12% more than in 2016. The four-week average for ethanol production increased to 1.029 million b/d for an annualized rate of 15.77 billion gallons. Stocks of ethanol narrowed to a 4-week low of 21.5 million barrels. That is a 2.3% decrease from last week. There were zero imports recorded for the 23rd week in a row.

Average weekly gasoline demand decreased 2.5% to 400.3 million gallons (9.531 million barrels) daily. This is equivalent to 146.11 billion gallons annualized. Refiner/blender input of ethanol pressed 2.1% upward to 942,000 b/d, equivalent to 14.44 billion gallons annualized and the strongest demand in 20 weeks. The ethanol content in gasoline supplied to the market averaged 9.88%, up from 9.44% the previous week. Expressed as a percentage of daily gasoline demand, daily ethanol production increased to 11.10%.