Last week, domestic ethanol demand was 14.5 BGY, up 4.1% compared to a week ago. The EIA-reported gas demand was up 4.1% from last week, at 138.6 BGY. The 4-week average ethanol and gas demand are 14.3 BGY and 136.9 BGY (-1.1% YoY).
Ethanol production was 17.0 BGY last week, up 2.1% versus the week before, and 7.3% more than the 4-week average in 2019. Midwest production was up 3.0% (+9.1 MG) versus a week ago, and average production in the other regions was down 13.8% (-2.4 MG), mainly on the East Coast. Ethanol production capacity utilization of plants online this week was 94.0% overall, 95.9% in the Midwest, and 66.6% 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 88.0% overall, 93.4% in the Midwest and 39.6% in the other regions.
Exports were an estimated 42.9 MG last week based on 190 MG forecast for August. The EIA reported no ethanol imports last week.
Overall inventory was up 2.2 MG last week. EIA-counted stocks increased 3.6 MG, and regional changes were: East (-6 MG), Gulf (-7 MG) and West (+4 MG) Coasts and the Midwest (+13 MG). In-transit inventory levels decreased 1.4 MG.
Based on the total inventory of 1,347 MG on Aug 21st and the 4-week avg. domestic demand, there were 34.2 days of supply, up 0.1 days from a week ago. Including the 4-week avg. of net exports, the days of supply were 29.6 days, up 0.1 days from a week ago.