Ethanol production drops to 12-week low of 1.029 million b/d

In Washington, D.C., ethanol production shifted lower by 20,000 barrels per day (b/d), or 1.9%, to a twelve-week low of 1.029 million b/d—equivalent to 43.22 million gallons daily, according to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association. The four-week average ethanol production rate decreased 0.8% to 1.059 million b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 16.23 billion gallons.

Ethanol stocks grew 0.9% to 24.2 million barrels, the largest reserves in six months and 1.1% higher than the same week last year. Inventories built in all regions except the Gulf Coast (PADD 3), which experienced a sharp decline.

There were zero imports of ethanol recorded for the second straight week. (Weekly export data for ethanol is not reported simultaneously; the latest export data is as of November 2019.)

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market expanded 1.5% to 8.793 million b/d (369.31 million gallons per day, or 134.80 bg annualized). Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol scaled 1.0% higher to 873,000 b/d—equivalent to 13.38 bg annualized.

Expressed as a percentage of daily gasoline demand, daily ethanol production declined to 11.70%.