Market Matters Blog

MINNEAPOLIS (DTN) -- The DTN average price for domestic distillers dried grains (DDG) from 35 locations reporting for the week ended April 20 was $257 per ton, down $2 from one week ago. Prices were mixed but lower on average due in part to plants coming back online from spring maintenance and adding DDG supplies back into the market. The cash corn price remained steady versus one week ago, with the DTN National Corn Index at even money to April 13 price.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) at midweek showed overall ethanol production in the U.S. moved off a 13-week low, up 65,000 barrels per day (bpd) to an eight-week high of 1.024 million bpd last week, 8.1% more than a year ago. The four-week average output at 997,000 bpd was 2,000 bpd above the same four weeks in 2022. Midwest PADD 2 ethanol production also moved off a roughly three-month low, up 62,000 bpd or 6.8% to an eight-week high 974,000 bpd. The four-week average output in PADD 2 at 950,000 bpd was 12,000 bpd higher than the same time last year.

Based on the average of prices collected by DTN, the value of DDG relative to corn for the week ended Apr 20 was 1.08%. The value of DDG relative to soybean meal was 56.95 and the cost per unit of protein for DDG was $9.52 compared to the cost per unit of protein for soybean meal at $9.50.

In its weekly DDGS export update, the U.S. Grains Council said: "Weaker barge rates and pressure on interior DDGS values is pressuring DDGS export prices this week. Barge CIF NOLA offers are down $3 metric tons (mt) for spot positions while June/July offers are down $4 to $5 mt. FOB NOLA offers are down $1 for spot shipment but up $2 mt for June and July while offers for 40-foot containers to Southeast Asia are down $13 mt at $386 mt."

NOTE: All prices listed below can change at any time and are subject to confirmation from seller.

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Mary Kennedy can be reached at mary.kennedy@dtn.com

Follow her on Twitter @MaryCKenn

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