Last week, domestic ethanol demand was 13.9 BGY, down 1.8% compared to a week ago. The EIA-reported gas demand was down 1.8% from last week, at 133.2 BGY. The 4-week average ethanol and gas demand are 14.0 BGY and 133.7 BGY (+03% YoY).
Ethanol production was 15.4 BGY last week, down 2.0% versus the week before, and 1.2% more than the 4-week average, YoY. Midwest production was down 1.5% (-4.1 MG) versus a week ago, and average production in the other regions was down 10.6% (-2.1 MG). Ethanol production capacity utilization of plants online this week was 85.2% overall, 85.6% in the Midwest, and 78.6% 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 79.7% overall, 83.4% in the Midwest and 46.7% 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 19.2 MG last week. EIA-counted stocks decreased 34.4 MG, and regional changes were: East (-14 MG), Gulf (-10 MG) and West (+2 MG) Coasts and the Midwest (-12 MG). In-transit inventory levels increased 15.1 MG.
Based on the total inventory of 1,301 MG on Sep 25th and the 4-week avg. domestic demand, there were 34.6 days of supply, up 0.1 days from a week ago. Including the 4-week avg. of net exports, the days of supply were 29.7 days, unchanged from a week ago.