EIA: Ethanol Stocks, Production Surge

NEW YORK (DTN) -- Total ethanol stockpiles, plant production and blending demand all increased during the week-ended Dec. 9, the Energy Information Administration reported on Wednesday.

The EIA's Weekly Petroleum Status Report showed domestic fuel ethanol inventories increased roughly 600,000 barrels (bbl), or 2.9%, to 19.1 million bbl. Despite the second straight week with a build, supply is 1.2 million bbl, or 6.1%, below a year ago. On Nov. 25, domestic ethanol supply fell to a 13-month low of 18.4 million bbl.

Plant production increased 17,000 barrels per day (bpd), or 1.7%, to a 1.040 million bpd record high for the week-ended Dec. 9, up 40,000 bpd or 4% versus a year earlier. For the four weeks ended last week, domestic ethanol production averaged 1.022 million bpd, up 33,000 bpd, or 3.3%.

Net refiner and blender inputs of ethanol, a gauge for demand, rose 22,000 bpd, or 2.5%, to 894,000 bpd during the week-ended Dec. 9. Year over year, refiner and blender inputs are up 4,000 bpd, or 0.4%, with the four-week average through Dec. 9 up 24,000 bpd, or 2.7%, at 897,000 bpd.

(BM/AG)

Copyright 2016 DTN/The Progressive Farmer. All rights reserved.