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U.S. ethanol supply close to 2026 low

U.S. ethanol stocks fell sharply last week.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration says the domestic supply is the tightest since the start of the year at 23.928 million barrels. The low mark for the year is the week ending January 3rd, 2026. That’s a decline of 762,000 on the week and 31,000 on the year, with supplies down in nearly all of the reporting regions, indicating solid domestic demand.

The one area stocks expanded was the Gulf, which likely means exports are going to ramp up even further.

The Renewable Fuels Association says ethanol exports averaged 200,000 barrels per day, rising 74,000 from the previous week and 79,000 from a year ago.

Ethanol production averaged 1.093 million barrels per day, 24,000 less than the week before, but 8,000 more than last year, which can be tied to margins.

Net inputs of ethanol purchased by refiners and blenders and the volume of gasoline supplied to the market both had week-to-week decreases.

The USDA’s next corn for ethanol use estimate is out Friday.