US ethanol production at lowest level since 2010 – EIA

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Ethanol production declined – by 7,000 bbl/day – to 563,000 bbl/day, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

This marks the lowest level of production since the EIA began reporting ethanol production statistics in 2010.

Production of fuel ethanol in the US has been declining, as plants continue to idle or shut down completely due to a loss of demand on stay-at-home orders.

According to the ethanol trade group, The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), 73 ethanol plants in the US are now idled, with 71 significantly reducing operations in order to deal with the impact of the coronavirus, as it destroys demand for fuel and fuel ethanol.

The RFA also said in a statement that “US ethanol sales in 2020 could fall by more than $10bn  and the industry’s contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) could drop by nearly one third.”