Ethanol production up 0.6% over previous week, down 14.1% over same week last year

In Washington, D.C., ethanol production increased 0.6%, or 6,000 barrels per day (b/d), to 941,000 b/d—equivalent to 39.52 million gallons daily, according to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association. Production remained 14.1% below the same week last year.

The four-week average ethanol production rate decreased 0.4% to 946,000 b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 14.50 billion gallons (bg). Ethanol stocks expanded 1.8% to 23.7 million barrels, which was 3.0% above a year-ago and a 35-week high. A majority of the stocks build took place in the East Coast (PADD 1), where inventories grew by 9.1%.

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, stepped 1.2% higher to 7.53 million b/d (115.47 bg annualized). Gasoline demand was 12.0% less than a year ago.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol climbed 4.0% to 748,000 b/d, equivalent to 11.47 bg annualized. This was 12.4% 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. (Weekly export data for ethanol is not reported simultaneously; the latest export data is as of November 2020.)