Last week, domestic ethanol demand was 14.2 BGY, up 1.7% compared to a week ago. The EIA-reported gas demand was up 1.7% from last week, at 137.3 BGY. The 4-week average ethanol and gas demand are 14.0 and 135.6 BGY (unchanged YoY).
Ethanol production was 15.7 BGY last week, down 2.9% versus the week before, and 2.9% more than the 4-week average in 2019. Midwest production was down 3.3% (-9.7 MG) versus a week ago, and average production in the other regions was up 3.4% (+0.6 MG). Capacity utilization of plants online was 87.6% overall, 88.1% in the Midwest, and 81.3% on average, elsewhere, excluding 1,258 MGY of capacity shutdown at 25 ethanol plants for other than maintenance. On an installed capacity basis, utilization was 81.9% overall, 85.6% in the Midwest and 48.0% in the other regions.
Exports were an estimated 39.7 MG last week based on 170 MG forecast for September. The EIA reported no ethanol imports last week.
Overall inventory was down 15.0 MG last week. EIA-counted stocks increased 36.4 MG, and regional changes were: East (+9 MG), Gulf (+18 MG) and West (+5 MG) Coasts and the Midwest (+4 MG). In-transit inventory levels decreased 51.3 MG.
Based on the total inventory of 1,323 MG on September 19th and the 4-week avg. domestic demand, there were 34.6 days of supply, up 0.2 days from a week ago. Including the 4-week avg. of net exports, there were 30.1 days of supply, up 0.2 days from a week ago.