Last week, domestic ethanol demand was 14.2 BGY, up 0.6% compared to a week ago. The EIA-reported gas demand was up 0.6% from last week, at 135.6 BGY. The 4-week average ethanol and gas demand are 14.1 BGY and 134.6 BGY (-0.8% YoY).
Ethanol production was 15.8 BGY last week, down 6.5% versus the week before, and 3.3% more than the 4-week average in 2019. Midwest production was down 7.5% (-22.9 MG) versus a week ago, and average production in the other regions was up 11.9% (+2.1 MG) mainly in the Gulf Coast. Ethanol production capacity utilization of plants online this week was 86.9% overall, 86.9% in the Midwest, and 87.9% on average, elsewhere, excluding 1,236 MGY of capacity shutdown at 24 ethanol plants for other than maintenance. On an installed capacity basis, utilization was 81.4% overall, 84.6% in the Midwest and 52.3% in the other regions.
Exports were an estimated 44.3 MG last week based on 190 MG forecast for September. The EIA reported no ethanol imports last week.
Overall inventory was down 17.9 MG last week. EIA-counted stocks decreased 22.6 MG, and regional changes were: East (-2 MG), Gulf (+4 MG) and West (-1 MG) Coasts and the Midwest (-24 MG). In-transit inventory levels increased 4.6 MG.
Based on the total inventory of 1,320 MG on Sep 18th and the 4-week avg. domestic demand, there were 34.5 days of supply, up 0.2 days from a week ago. Including the 4-week avg. of net exports, the days of supply were 29.7 days, up 0.2 days from a week ago.