Last week, domestic ethanol demand was 14.0 BGY, up 3.5% compared to a week ago. The EIA-reported gas demand was up 3.5% from last week, at 135.1 BGY. The 4-week average ethanol and gas demand are 14.1 and 136.7 BGY (+0.5% YoY).
Ethanol production was 16.2 BGY last week, down 4.5% versus the week before, and 3.5% more than the 4-week average in 2019. Midwest production was down 4.8% (-14.7 MG) versus a week ago, and average production in the other regions was unchanged. Capacity utilization of plants online was 90.3% overall, 91.1% in the Midwest, and 78.5% on average, elsewhere, excluding 1,258 MGY of capacity shutdown at 25 ethanol plants for other than maintenance (details on pg. 30). On an installed capacity basis, utilization was 84.4% overall, 88.6% in the Midwest and 46.4% 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 1.3 MG last week. EIA-counted stocks decreased 9.9 MG, and regional changes were: East (+6 MG), Gulf (-4 MG) and West (+3 MG) Coasts and the Midwest (-15 MG). In-transit inventory levels increased 8.6 MG.
Based on the total inventory of 1,338 MG on September 12th and the 4-week avg. domestic demand, there were 34.4 days of supply, up 0.1 days from a week ago. Including the 4-week avg. of net exports, there were 29.9 days of supply, up 0.1 days from a week ago.