US Ethanol Inventories Rise 2nd Week

EIA: Ethanol Production Again Lower, Yet Holds Over 1M BPD

OAKHURST, N.J. (DTN) -- Domestic ethanol inventories rose a second week as of July 23 as output, though again lower, remained above 1 million barrels per day (bpd) for an 11th straight week -- the longest stretch in over a year, according to Energy Information Administration data released Wednesday, July 28.

Domestic ethanol plant production fell a third week, falling 14,000 bpd or 1.4% to a nine-week low 1.028 million bpd. Four-week average output was at 1.037 million bpd, down 11,000 bpd from the four-week average the prior week.

EIA reported PADD 2 ethanol plant production continued lower for a third week, down 20,000 bpd to 960,000 bpd as of July 23, also an 11-week low.

Total ethanol inventories rose 215,000 barrels (bbl) to 22.733 million bbl last week, the highest stock level since the week ended Feb. 19 and nearly 12% more than the same time in 2020.

East Coast PADD 1 ethanol inventories gained a second week, up 252,000 bbl to a 15-week high 7.161 million bbl while Midwest PADD 2 stocks dipped after two straight weekly builds, down slightly to 8.467 million bbl.

West Coast PADD 5 supply rose 273,000 bbl to 3.016 million bbl and at the Gulf Coast PADD 3, stocks declined 317,000 bbl to 3.738 million bbl.

Blending activity rose for the first time in three weeks, up 23,000 bpd or 2.5% to 930,000 bpd. Blending activity during the four weeks ended July 23 averaged 925,000 bpd, 2,000 bpd below the prior four-week period.

Midwest PADD 2 blending rose for the first time in four weeks, up 8,000 bpd in the period profiled while at the Gulf Coast demand held steady. For the four weeks ended July 23, EIA reports PADD 2 blending activity was at 253,000 bpd while PADD 3 activity was 150,000 bpd.