New data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association, shows U.S. ethanol production declined for the week ending April 17, falling 7.1 percent to an 11-week low of 1.04 million barrels per day. Despite the weekly drop, output remained slightly above both last year’s level and the three-year average. Ethanol inventories increased 0.9 percent to 26.9 million barrels, with notable regional gains along the East and Gulf coasts.
At the same time, gasoline demand, a key indicator tied to ethanol use, edged down 0.4 percent and trailed year-ago levels. “Refiner-blender net inputs of ethanol improved 5.3 percent,” the report noted, reaching their highest point since September 2025. Exports also rose sharply, climbing 12.3 percent to 91,000 barrels per day, signaling continued international demand even as domestic consumption shows modest softness.
-NAFB