EIA: US Ethanol Production Edges Up, Blending Demand Eases

OAKHURST, N.J. (DTN) -- Energy Information Administration data released at midmorning show a weekly build in domestic ethanol inventory through March 3 as production climbed 0.7%, while ethanol blender inputs edged slightly lower, maintaining a recent up/down pattern.

Total domestic ethanol production gained 7,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 1.010 million bpd last week, 1.6% below the same week in 2022.

In the Midwest PADD 2, ethanol production rose 6,000 bpd or 0.6% to 964,000 bpd, 1.3% below a year ago.

Data show ethanol blending activity in the U.S., a measure of demand, slipped 3,000 bpd through March 3 to 870,000 bpd, 2.9% below than the corresponding week in 2022. Four-week average blender inputs were 868,000 bpd, 1,000 bpd below last year.

Blender inputs at the East Coast PADD 1 held higher, up 3,000 bpd week-over-week while inputs at the Midwest also held to the upside, gaining 2,000 bpd as of March 3. At the Gulf Coast, inputs held steady while sliding 9,000 bpd at the West Coast PADD 5.

EIA data show overall domestic ethanol inventory rose 545,000 barrels (bbl) to 25.320 million bbl, 0.4% below this time in 2022.

East Coast supply increased for the first time in four weeks, up 435,000 bbl to 8.349 million bbl, a roughly one-year high while stocks in the Midwest continued lower for a second week, falling 202,000 bbl to 9.801 million bbl.

The agency reports Gulf Coast ethanol inventory at 4.521 million bbl, up 567,000 bbl on the week and West Coast supply dropped 275,000 bbl to 2.241 million bbl, the lowest level since the final week of June 2022.

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