Ethanol Stocks Drop to Over 1-Year Low

NEW YORK (DTN) -- Total ethanol stockpiles, plant production and blending demand in the United States all declined during the week-ended Nov. 25, the Energy Information Administration reported Wednesday morning.

The EIA's Weekly Petroleum Status Report showed domestic fuel ethanol inventories decreased by about 600,000 barrels (bbl), or 2.7%, to 18.4 million bbl, the lowest supply level since the week-ended Oct. 23, 2015, when supplies were at 18.273 million bbl. That leaves supplies at a year-over-year deficit of 1.5 million bbl, or 7.7%, below a year ago level.

Plant production eased 2,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 1.012 million bpd for the week profiled, up 56,000 bpd versus a year earlier. For the four weeks ended Nov. 25, domestic ethanol production averaged 1.011 bpd, up 31,000 bpd or 3.2% from the comparable year ago period.

Net refiner and blender inputs of ethanol, a gauge for demand, dropped 11,000 bpd, or 1.2%, to 906,000 bpd during the week-ended Nov. 25. Year over year, refiner and blender inputs are up 30,000 bpd, or 3.4%. For the four-week average, blending demand is up 38,000 bpd, or 4.3%, at 913,000 bpd from the year prior.

(BM/AG)

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