Ethanol Stocks Drop

EIA: Ethanol Stocks Slip to 3-Week Low Even as Output Jumps

CRANBURY, N.J. (DTN) -- Energy Information Administration reported a 300,000-barrel (bbl) draw from U.S. ethanol supply during the week ended Dec. 20 to a 21.5 million bbl three-week low even as plant production ramped up to a 6-1/2-month high.

EIA reports supply draws for the PAD 1, 3 and 5 districts and a 400,000 bbl build in the Midwest PADD 2 production region to 7.3 million bbl. The Midwest build comes as ethanol plant production jumped 19,000 barrels per day (bpd), or 1.8%, to 1.083 million bpd -- the highest output rate since the first week of June. Ethanol plant output averaged 1.07 million bpd during the four weeks ended Dec. 20, up 19,000 bpd, or 1.8%, against the comparable year-ago period.

Midwest ethanol supply is down 300,000 bbl, or 3.9%, against year ago, with only the PADD 1 East Coast showing a year-on-year increase. PADD 1 ethanol stocks were drawn down 200,000 bbl to 7.1 million bbl, 200,000 bbl, or 2.9%, above year ago.

Ethanol supply in PADD 3 Gulf Coast declined 300,000 bbl to 3.8 million bbl during the week reviewed, while a sizable 1.2 million bbl below year ago. PADD 5 West Coast ethanol inventory was drawn down 200,000 bbl to 2.9 million bbl, 400,000 bbl below a year ago.

Blending demand increased during the third week of December, up 26,000 bpd, or 2.9%, at a 938,000 bpd six-week high. During the four weeks ended Dec. 20, net refiner and blender input averaged 903,000 bpd, down 13,000 bpd, or 1.4%, against the corresponding period in 2018.

(BM/AG)

P[L1] D[0x0] M[300x250] OOP[F] ADUNIT[] T[]
P[] D[728x170] M[320x75] OOP[F] ADUNIT[] T[]
P[L2] D[728x90] M[320x50] OOP[F] ADUNIT[] T[]
P[R1] D[300x250] M[300x250] OOP[F] ADUNIT[] T[]
P[R2] D[300x250] M[320x50] OOP[F] ADUNIT[] T[]
DIM[1x3] LBL[article-box] SEL[] IDX[] TMPL[standalone] T[]
P[R3] D[300x250] M[0x0] OOP[F] ADUNIT[] T[]