Ethanol production thins out slightly at 1.4% less than prior week

In Washington, D.C., ethanol production averaged 1.015 million barrels per day (b/d)—or 42.63 million gallons daily – output tightening by 21,000 b/d, dropping 2.0% under the prior week, according to government data released and analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association.

The four-week average for ethanol production receded to a 20-week low of 1.031 million b/d for an annualized rate of 15.81 billion gallons. Stocks of ethanol shot up 3.5% to a 28-week high of 23.4 million barrels. There were zero ethanol imports recorded for the fourth consecutive week. (Weekly export data for ethanol is not reported simultaneously; the latest export data is as of July 2018.)

Average weekly gasoline demand bounced to 9.102 million barrels (382.3 million gallons) daily, up 1.3%. This is equivalent to 139.53 billion gallons annualized. Refiner/blender input of ethanol followed gasoline demand, rising 1.8% to 917,000 b/d. That is equivalent to 14.06 billion gallons annualized. Expressed as a percentage of daily gasoline demand, daily ethanol production slid to 11.15%.