Ethanol Inventory Continues to Fall
EIA: Ethanol Output at 5-Month Low; Stocks Again Drawn Down
OAKHURST, N.J. (DTN) -- Domestic inventory of ethanol continued lower for a fourth week through Aug. 20 as production of the fuel slid 4.1% to the lowest level since March, the Energy Information Administration reported on Wednesday, Aug. 25.
Data show production dropped a seventh straight week, sliding 40,000 barrels per day (bpd) in the week profiled to 933,000 bpd, a five-month low.
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Midwest PADD 2 plant production, at 881,000 bpd, tumbled 40,000 bpd on the week to the lowest weekly output rate since the week ended March 19.
Total ethanol inventories fell 335,000 barrels (bbl) to a six-week low 21.223 million bbl as of Aug. 20, 4% more than the same time in 2020.
East Coast PADD 1 ethanol inventories gained a second week, up 51,000 bbl to a four-week high 7.073 million bbl, while Midwest PADD 2 stocks fell a third straight week, down 201,000 bbl to a six-week low 7.799 million bbl.
West Coast PADD 5 supply added 92,000 bbl to 2.907 million bbl and at the Gulf Coast PADD 3, stocks dropped a third week. At 3.063 million bbl, PADD 3 supply marked the lowest level since end of December 2016.
Refiner and net blender inputs of ethanol rose 5,000 bpd to 926,000 bpd during the week profiled, 8.4% above the same time in 2020. Blending activity during the four weeks ended Aug. 20 averaged 927,000 bpd.
Midwest PADD 2 blending edged up 1,000 bpd in the period profiled, while at the Gulf Coast, demand declined 2,000 bpd. For the four weeks ended Aug. 20, EIA reports PADD 2 blending activity was at 255,000 bpd, while PADD 3 activity was 151,000 bpd.
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