US fuel ethanol production increased 2.24% to 1.143 million barrels per day (b/d) in the week ended October 30, rising by 25,000 b/d from 1.118 million b/d in the previous week, according to data released by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) on November 4.
The latest output was the highest recorded during the six-week period covered by the EIA data. Production at ethanol plants has increased steadily from 1.007 million b/d in the week ended September 25 to 1.053 million b/d on October 2, 1.065 million b/d on October 9, 1.094 million b/d on October 16 and 1.118 million b/d on October 23.
Meanwhile, net inputs of fuel ethanol by refiners and blenders declined to 899,000 b/d in the week ended October 30, down 8,000 b/d from 907,000 b/d in the previous week. The latest figure was also lower than the 914,000 b/d recorded in the week ended September 25.
US fuel ethanol inventories fell to 24.434 million barrels during the week, compared with 24.523 million barrels in the previous week. However, stocks remained higher than the 23.865 million barrels reported on September 25.
Ethanol exports moved in the opposite direction, increasing to 147,000 b/d in the week ended October 30 from 116,000 b/d in the previous week. Exports stood at 142,000 b/d in the week ended September 25.
