US Ethanol Inventory Down Slightly

EIA: US Ethanol Production Rises for 1st Time in 5 Weeks, Up 2.9%

OAKHURST, N.J. (DTN) -- The latest Energy Information Administration data show slightly lower ethanol inventory in the United States through the week ended July 15, though blending demand held at a better-than-two-month low and output gained for the first time in over a month.

Production at domestic ethanol plants moved off an eight-week low with the first increase in five weeks. Data show total output up 29,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 1.034 million bpd, 0.6% higher than the same week in 2021. Ethanol plant output averaged 1.033 million bpd during the four weeks ended July 15, down 15,000 bpd versus the same four weeks a year earlier.

Following two weekly declines, blending activity held steady at a better-than-two-month low 887,000 bpd. Demand for the week was down 20,000 bpd or 2.2% from the corresponding week last year.

EIA reports refiner and blender net inputs held at 319,000 bpd along the East Coast PADD 1 while gaining 1,000 bpd in the Midwest PADD 2 to 242,000 bpd, falling 2,000 bpd in Gulf Coast PADD 3 to 145,000 bpd, and holding at 148,000 bpd in the West Coast PADD 5.

Domestic ethanol supply eased 53,000 barrels (bbl) on the week to 23.553 million bbl, 1.1 million bbl or 4.9% higher than the same time last year.

East Coast ethanol inventory increased 355,000 bbl to 7.593 million bbl through July 15, and Midwest stocks dropped 459,000 bbl to 8.774 million bbl.

At the Gulf Coast, EIA data show ethanol inventory fell 103,000 bbl to 4.154 million bbl and stocks at the West Coast PADD 5 increased 165,000 bbl to 2.651 million bbl.