US Ethanol Inventory Falls Again

EIA: Ethanol Output Again Up, Demand Falls to Over 4-Month Low

OAKHURST, N.J. (DTN) -- Domestic inventory of ethanol was again drawn down, falling to a 14-week low through Sept. 10, though demand dropped to an over four-month low and production held higher, the Energy Information Administration reported on Wednesday, Sept. 15.

EIA reported overall production continued higher a second week, up 14,000 barrels per day (bpd) or 1.5% to a four-week high 937,000 bpd.

Midwest PADD 2 plant production also posted a second straight weekly gain, up 11,000 bpd or 1.3% to 881,000 bpd, a three-week high.

Total ethanol inventories fell a seventh consecutive week, down 380,000 barrels (bbl) to 20.010 million bbl as of Sept. 10, 1% more than the same time in 2020.

East Coast PADD 1 ethanol inventories were drawn down a third week, falling 145,000 bbl to a nine-week low 6.776 million bbl while Midwest PADD 2 stocks gained for the first time in six weeks, up 12,000 bbl to 7.5 million bbl.

West Coast PADD 5 supply declined a second week, down 108,000 bbl to 2.762 million bbl, and at the Gulf Coast PADD 3, stocks were drawn down a sixth consecutive week, down 126,000 bbl to 2.508 million bbl week. Stocks are at the lowest level in over seven years -- since the week ended April 18, 2014.

Blending activity decreased 8,000 bpd to 898,000 bpd, the lowest level since the first week of May but 6.3% above the same time in 2021. Blending activity during the four weeks ended Sept. 10 averaged 914,000 bpd, down 6,000 bpd from four weeks prior.

Midwest PADD 2 blending activity declined 6,000 bpd in the period profiled, while at the Gulf Coast, blending demand gained 4,000 bpd. For the four weeks ended Sept. 10, EIA reports PADD 2 blending activity was at 251,000 bpd while PADD 3 net inputs were 150,000 bpd.