US Ethanol Inventory Edges Higher

By DTN Staff

OAKHURST, N.J. (DTN) -- Ethanol inventory in the United States edged slightly higher through July 29, with the first stock build in three weeks realized as plant production outpaced blending demand, with output at a four-week high and net blending inputs reached a five-week high, Energy Information Administration data released Wednesday, Aug. 3, show.

Output at domestic ethanol plants rose 2.2% or 22,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 1.043 million bpd, 3% higher than the same week in 2021. Ethanol plant output averaged 1.026 million bpd during the four weeks ended July 29, up 2,000 bpd versus the same four weeks a year earlier.

Data show blending activity continued higher, up 13,000 bpd or 1.5% on the week to 908,000 bpd, a five-week high while 2.6% from the corresponding week last year.

EIA reports refiner and blender net inputs along the East Coast PADD 1 rose 4,000 bpd to 325,000 bpd while up 4,000 bpd in the Midwest PADD 2 to 251,000 bpd. In Gulf Coast PADD 3, ethanol inputs increased 2,000 bpd to 149,000 bpd, while 1,000 bpd higher at 150,000 bpd in the West Coast PADD 5.

EIA reports total ethanol stocks added 66,000 barrels (bbl) to 23.394 million bbl as of July 29, 3.5% higher than inventory held the same week last year.

East Coast ethanol inventory added 112,000 bbl to a 12-week high 7.624 million bbl last week, while Midwest stocks rose for the first time in four weeks, up 94,000 bbl to 8.785 million bbl.

Stocks at the Gulf Coast fell 137,000 bbl to 4.055 million bbl, and inventory at the West Coast PADD 5 dipped 10,000 bbl to 2.567 million bbl.

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