This article courtesy of Renewable Fuels Association
According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending August 4, ethanol production dropped 4.1% to an 8-week low of 1.023 million b/d, equivalent to 42.97 million gallons daily. However, output was 0.1% more than the same week last year and 1.4% above the five-year average for the week. The four-week average ethanol production rate decreased 0.2% to 1.064 million b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 16.31 billion gallons (bg).
Ethanol stocks crept 0.1% higher to 22.9 million barrels. Stocks were 1.6% less than a year ago yet 2.0% above the five-year average. Inventories built in the East Coast (PADD 1) and Gulf Coast (PADD 3) but thinned across the other regions.
The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, jumped 5.3% to 9.30 million b/d (142.60 bg annualized), the highest level since June. Demand was 2.0% more than a year ago but 0.8% below the five-year average.
Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol declined 0.3% to 921,000 b/d, equivalent to 14.12 bg annualized. Net inputs were 1.3% more than the same week last year but 0.2% below the five-year average.
Ethanol exports were estimated at 69,000 b/d (2.9 million gallons per day), a 51% decrease from the prior week. There were zero imports recorded for the 35th consecutive week.
