Ethanol weekly production down 1.5%, remains down 6.9% over same week last year

In Washington, D.C., ethanol production scaled back by 1.5%, or 15,000 barrels per day (b/d), to 962,000 b/d—equivalent to 40.40 million gallons daily, according to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association. Production remained 6.9% below the same week last year. However, the four-week average ethanol production rate rose for the sixth consecutive week, up 1.3% to 960,000 b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 14.72 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks ticked up 0.2% to 20.2 million barrels, which was the highest volume since August and 1.5% below a year-ago. Inventories built across all regions except the East Coast (PADD 1) and Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, slumped 5.8% to 8.26 million b/d (126.60 bg annualized). Gasoline demand was 10.2% less than a year ago.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol decreased 2.5% to 813,000 b/d, equivalent to 12.46 bg annualized and a 22-week low. This was 12.5% below the year-earlier level as a result of the continuing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

There were zero imports of ethanol recorded after 68,000 b/d hit the books the prior week. (Weekly export data for ethanol is not reported simultaneously; the latest export data is as of September 2020.)