ADM to idle two US fuel ethanol plants

HOUSTON (ICIS)– US fuel ethanol producer is idling two of its plants in Columbus, Nebraska, and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as demand destruction continues in the industry.

Production of fuel ethanol continues to fall, and is now at 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.

The governors of five US states, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming, have also asked the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for waivers for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for their refiners.

The governors cite plunging fuel demand as the reason for the request in a letter to the EPA.

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