EIA: US Ethanol Production Lower; Blender Demand Up

OAKHURST, N.J. (DTN) -- Midmorning Energy Information Administration data show overall ethanol production in the United States averaged 983,000 barrels per day (bpd) as of May 19, down 4,000 bpd week-on-week and 31,000 bpd, or 3.2% lower than in the same week last year. Four-week average output at 978,000 bpd was 13,000 bpd below the same four weeks in 2022.

Midwest ethanol production averaged 931,000 bpd, down 1,000 bpd week-on-week and 29,000 bpd, or 3.1% lower than in the same week last year. Four-week average output at 924,000 bpd was 13,000 bpd below the same four weeks in 2022.

Ethanol blending activity in the U.S. averaged 929,000 bpd, up 20,000 bpd week-on-week and 14,000 bpd, or 1.5% higher than in the same week last year. Four-week average output at 911,000 bpd was 5,000 bpd above the same four weeks in 2022.

Blender inputs at the East Coast were up 9,000 bpd on the week while inputs in the Midwest were up 6,000 bpd, up 1,000 bpd on the Gulf Coast and up 3,000 bpd on the West Coast.

Domestic ethanol inventories ended the week at 22.041 million bbl, down 1.15 million barrels (bbl) week-on-week and 1.671 million bbl, or 7.6% lower than in the same week last year.

East Coast PADD 1 inventories ended the week at 7.163 million bbl, down 161,000 bbl week-on-week and 364,000 bbl, or 5.1% lower than in the same week last year.

Midwest PADD 2 inventories ended the week at 8.381 million bbl, down 214,000 bbl week-on-week and 903,000 bbl, or 10.8% lower than in the same week last year.

Gulf Coast PADD 3 inventories ended the week at 3.928 million bbl, down 732,000 bbl week-on-week and 317,000 bbl, or 8.1% lower than in the same week last year.

West Coast PADD 5 inventories ended the week at 2.205 million bbl, down 58,000 bbl week-on-week and 95,000 bbl, or 4.3% lower than in the same week last year.