US Ethanol Inventories Fall

By DTN Staff

OAKHURST, N.J. (DTN) -- A better-than-8% stock drawdown in East Coast PADD 1 depressed domestic ethanol inventories during the second week of November, though total production recouped a portion of the prior-week downturn, rising for six of the last seven weeks, according to the latest Energy Information Administration data.

Overall ethanol production rose 21,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 1.060 million bpd as of Nov. 12, 10.2% above the same week in 2020.

Midwest PADD 2 plant production also increased last week, up 26,000 bpd or 2.6% to 1.008 million bpd, 10% higher than output during the corresponding week last year.

Total ethanol inventories fell 205,000 barrels (bbl) to 20.081 million bbl as PADD 1 ethanol inventories dropped 440,000 bbl to 5.336 million bbl, the lowest level since early April 2014.

EIA data show Midwest PADD 2 stocks rose a third week, up 187,000 bbl to 8.074 million bbl, the highest level since early August. West Coast PADD 5 supply continued lower, down 93,000 bbl to 2.711 million bbl and data show Gulf Coast PADD 3 stocks added 148,000 bbl to 3.584 million bbl.

Blending activity rose 5,000 bpd to 898,000 bpd, 10.5% above the same time in 2020, while blending activity during the four weeks ended Nov. 12 averaged 902,000 bpd versus 834,000 bpd during the same four weeks in 2020.

Midwest blending was again lower, down 1,000 bpd in the week under review while at the East Coast demand rose 3,000 bpd and Gulf Coast demand was unchanged on the week. For the four weeks ended Nov. 12, EIA data show PADD 2 blending activity was at 241,000 bpd while PADD 1 activity was 327,000 bpd and PADD 3 demand was 153,000 bpd.

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