The U.S. ethanol industry continues to produce at a rate of more than 4 billion gallons annually. According to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), ethanol production in the U.S. was averaging 269,000 barrels per day (b/d) in October, up 8,000 b/d from September.
Demand for ethanol also grew substantially to 278,000 b/d. That is the second highest monthly demand, surpassed only by August demand.
The Renewable Fuels Association released the following statistics:
October Statistics (mg = million gallons)
|
Fuel Ethanol Production |
350.07 mg |
269,000 b/d |
|
Fuel Ethanol Use |
361.8 mg |
278,000 b/d |
|
Fuel Ethanol Stocks |
234.8 mg |
20.8 days of reserve |
|
Fuel Ethanol Exports |
0.0mg^ |
n/a |
|
Fuel Ethanol Imports |
22.9 mg* |
n/a |
*Source: U.S. International Trade Commission
^ Jim Jordan and Associates
"The continuing increase in ethanol production signals that the ethanol industry is here to stay," says RFA President Bob Dinneen. "Now producing well over the first year requirement of the RFS, the ethanol industry is fully prepared to exceed the requirements of this program in the years to come. With an interim rule on the RFS expected from the EPA soon, these production numbers should put to bed any doubt about the ethanol industry’s ability to meet its part of the bargain."
Currently, 94 ethanol plants have a combined production capacity of more nearly 4.2 billion gallons a year. There are 30 ethanol plants and nine expansions under construction with a combined annual capacity of more than 1.5 billion gallons.