Ethanol production up 10.2% from same week last year, up even more than pre-pandemic

In Washington, D.C., ethanol production scaled up by 21,000 barrels per day (b/d), or 2.0%, to 1.060 million b/d, according to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association. This is equivalent to 44.52 million gallons daily. Production was 10.2% above the same week last year, which was affected by the pandemic, and 2.6% greater than the same week in 2019.

However, the four-week average ethanol production volume decreased 0.8% to 1.078 million b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 16.53 billion gallons (bg).

Ethanol stocks declined 1.0% to 20.1 million barrels. Stocks were 0.6% below the year-ago level and 2.1% lower than the same week in 2019. Inventories thinned across all regions except the Midwest (PADD 2) and Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, dipped 0.2% to 9.24 million b/d (141.66 bg annualized). Gasoline demand was 11.9% above a year ago and 0.5% more than the same week in 2019.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol increased 0.6% to 898,000 b/d, equivalent to 13.77 bg annualized. Net inputs were 10.5% above a year ago but 3.3% less than the same week in 2019.

There were zero imports of ethanol recorded for the third consecutive week. (Weekly export data for ethanol is not reported simultaneously; the latest export data is as of September 2021.)