US Ethanol Inventories Continue Higher

Ethanol Output Slide, Demand Gain Mostly Offset Last Week

OAKHURST, N.J. (DTN) -- Domestic ethanol inventories continued higher in the week ended Sept. 24, while data show the decline in production was nearly matched by the uptick in demand, according to the latest Energy Information Administration report.

Overall production fell for a second week, down 12,000 barrels per day (bpd) or 1.3% to 914,000 bpd, which was 3.7% more than a year earlier. Midwest PADD 2 plant production fell for the first time in four weeks, down 19,000 bpd to 866,000 bpd.

Total ethanol inventories rose a second week, up 109,000 barrels (bbl) to 20.220 million bbl as of Sept. 24, 2.5% above stocks held this time in 2020.

East Coast PADD 1 ethanol inventories posted the first gain in five weeks, up 303,000 bbl to 6.643 million bbl, while Midwest PADD 2 stocks dropped 330,000 bbl to 7.079 million bbl.

West Coast PADD 5 supply held to the upside, gaining 173,000 bbl to 3.068 million bbl, and at the Gulf Coast PADD 3, stocks slipped 29,000 bbl to 3.043 million bbl.

Blending activity rose 11,000 bpd or 1.2% to 910,000 bpd, 8.3% above the same time in 2020. Blending activity during the four weeks ended Sept. 24 averaged 903,000 bpd, down 4,000 bpd from four weeks prior.

Midwest PADD 2 blending gained 3,000 bpd in the period profiled, while at the Gulf Coast, demand was unchanged. For the four weeks ended Sept. 24, EIA reports PADD 2 blending activity was at 246,000 bpd, while PADD 3 activity was 150,000 bpd.

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[]