U.S. ethanol production remains 12.4% below same week last year

In Washington, D.C., ethanol production slowed by 2.8%, or 26,000 barrels per day (b/d), to a 20-week low of 911,000 b/d—equivalent to 38.26 million gallons daily, according to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association. Production remained 12.4% below the same week last year.

The four-week average ethanol production rate decreased 1.0% to 929,000 b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 14.24 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks scaled 2.1% higher to 24.3 million barrels, which was 2.0% below a year-ago. Inventories built across all regions except the Rocky Mountains (PADD 4) and West Coast (PADD 5).

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, jumped 7.0% to 8.41 million b/d (128.88 bg annualized). Gasoline demand was 5.7% less than a year ago.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol rose 0.5% to 789,000 b/d, equivalent to 12.10 bg annualized. This was 11.9% 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 December 2020.)