Ethanol production breaches 16 billion gallons for first time this year

In Washington, D.C. ethanol production rose 19,000 barrels per day (b/d), a 1.9% increase, at an average of 1.071 million barrels per day (b/d)—equivalent to 44.98 million gallons daily, according to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association. That is the largest volume in 37 weeks and 42,000 b/d (4.2%) above year ago levels. The four-week average ethanol production rate lifted 0.6% to 1.046 million b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 16.04 billion gallons (bg)—the first time this year to breach 16 bg.

Ethanol stocks moved 5.2% higher to 23.4 million barrels, building across all PADDs. This is the largest volume in seven weeks and stands 5.9% greater than year ago reserves. There were no imports reported by EIA for the 27th week in a row. (Weekly export data for ethanol is not reported simultaneously; the latest export data is as of March 2019.)

The volume of gasoline supplied expanded 3.1% to 9.429 million b/d (396.0 million gallons per day, or 144.55 bg annualized). Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol moved fractionally lower (-0.2%) to 951,000 b/d, equivalent to 14.58 bg annualized. Expressed as a percentage of daily gasoline demand, daily ethanol production decreased to 11.36%.