The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) today announced that U.S. ethanol supplies continued to increase in the month of April, immediately prior to oil refiners’ voluntary elimination of MTBE.  According to Energy Information Administration data, stocks of ethanol reached a new pinnacle of 9.087 million barrels, or more than 380 million gallons.  This marks the 4th month in a row ethanol stocks grew in 2006 and represents more than a 60 percent increase from the end of 2005.

 

In addition, production remained strong, with more than 363 million gallons of ethanol produced in April.  Likewise, use of ethanol also remained strong, with demand estimated at 302,000 barrels per day.

 

The RFA released the following statistics:

April 2006 Statistics (mg = million gallons; b/d = barrels per day) 

• Fuel Ethanol Production 363.5 mg 289,000 b/d
• Fuel Ethanol Use 396.2 mg 302,000 b/d
• Fuel Ethanol Stocks 381.7 mg 31.4 days of reserve
• Fuel Ethanol Exports 0.0mg n/a
• Fuel Ethanol Imports 32.6 mg n/a

Source:  U.S. International Trade Commission

 

“The numbers don’t lie,” said RFA President Bob Dinneen.  “Immediately prior to refiners’ voluntarily eliminating MTBE from the market, U.S. ethanol producers had ensured that an ample supply of ethanol was available to meet this new demand.  With some 900 million gallons of new production capacity expected to come online in the next six months, our domestic ethanol industry is doing its part to produce the ethanol needed to meet this strong demand.  A vibrant and robust domestic ethanol industry is a critical component to the energy and economic future of this country.”

 

Currently, 101 ethanol biorefineries nationwide have the capacity to produce more than 4.8 billion gallons annually.  There are 34 ethanol refineries and 7 expansions under construction with a combined annual capacity of more than 2.2 billion gallons.