Pacific Ethanol to cut 60% of ethanol production by end-March

In California, ICIS reports that similar to many other ethanol producers across the US, Pacific Ethanol told investors that it will mothball 60% of its ethanol production before April as COVID-19 related lockdowns keep drivers off the road, which is estimated to cut fuel demand by at least 50%. Although the company has joined the industry in shifting fuel ethanol production to industrial production for the use in sanitizers and disinfectants, it’s not enough to offset fuel demand, forcing the shutdown at its plants.