Ethanol production up 2% from previous week, but still 9.9% lower than last year

In Washington, D.C., ethanol production expanded 2.0%, or 18,000 barrels per day (b/d), to 976,000 b/d—equivalent to 40.99 million gallons daily, according to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association. Production remained 9.9% below the same week last year. The four-week average ethanol production rate ticked 0.4% lower to 974,000 b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 14.93 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks grew 1.0% to a 30-week high of 23.2 million barrels, which was 7.9% above a year-ago. Inventories built across all regions except the Gulf Coast (PADD 3) and Rocky Mountains (PADD 4).

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, lifted 0.6% to 8.02 million b/d (122.98 bg annualized). Gasoline demand was 13.8% less than a year ago.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol remained flat at 802,000 b/d, equivalent to 12.29 bg annualized. This was 14.5% below the year-earlier level as a result of the continuing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

There were zero imports of ethanol recorded for the week. However, imports have been logged fifteen of the past 22 weeks. (Weekly export data for ethanol is not reported simultaneously; the latest export data is as of October 2020.)