Weekly Ethanol Production Falls, Stocks Rise

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending November 13th, ethanol production scaled back by 1.5%, or 15,000 barrels per day (b/d), to 962,000 b/d—equivalent to 40.40 million gallons daily. 

Production remained 6.9% below the same week last year. 

However, the four-week average ethanol production rate rose for the sixth consecutive week, up 1.3% to 960,000 b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 14.72 billion gallons (bg). 

Ethanol stocks ticked up 0.2% to 20.2 million barrels, which was the highest volume since August and 1.5% below a year-ago. 

Inventories built across all regions except the East Coast (PADD 1) and Gulf Coast (PADD 3). 

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, slumped 5.8% to 8.26 million b/d (126.60 bg  annualized). 

Gasoline demand was 10.2% less than a year ago. Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol decreased 2.5% to 813,000 b/d, equivalent to 12.46 bg annualized and a 22-week low. 

This was 12.5% below the year-earlier level as a result of the continuing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.