Ethanol Output Drops While Stocks Push Higher Nationwide

Rising ethanol stocks and softer gasoline demand bear watching, but stronger blending activity and exports offered some support.

Farmland producing ethanol for the oil and gas industry. Railroad tankers cars lined up near a ethanol plant at sunset_Photo by photogrfx via AdobeStock_496174713.png

Photo by photogrfx via Adobe Stock

NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD NEWS) — U.S. ethanol production moved lower in the week ending April 17, even as inventories kept building. According to the latest from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), output fell 7.1 percent to 1.04 million barrels per day. That equals 43.68 million gallons per day and marked an 11-week low.

Even so, production still ran 0.7 percent above the same week last year and 5.6 percent above the three-year average. The four-week average slipped 1.7 percent to 1.09 million barrels per day, equal to 16.72 billion gallons annualized.

The weekly drop in output matters because ethanol margins can tighten when stocks rise faster than demand. Ethanol stocks increased 0.9% to 26.9 million barrels, up 5.8% from a year ago and 7.0 percent above the three-year average for the week.

Regionally, inventories grew on the East Coast to a one-year high and on the Gulf Coast to a six-year high. Stocks declined in the other regions, while gasoline supplied — a demand gauge — dipped 0.4 percent to 9.06 million barrels per day.

Refiner and blender net ethanol inputs improved 5.3 percent to 921,000 barrels per day, the strongest weekly pace since mid-September 2025. Exports also rose 12.3 percent to 91,000 barrels per day, and EIA again reported no ethanol imports.

Farm-Level Takeaway: Rising ethanol stocks and softer gasoline demand bear watching, but stronger blending activity and exports offered some support.
Tony St. James, RFD News Markets Specialist
Related Stories
Tyson’s capacity cuts weaken local basis, tighten kill space, and heighten dependence on imports, signaling more volatility for producers.
Corn exports remain strong, while soybeans and wheat shift week to week on river conditions and global demand.
Tyson’s Nebraska plant closure and falling Cattle on Feed numbers send cattle markets tumbling. Analysts warn of tighter supplies, weak margins, and rising global competition.
A regional snapshot of harvest pace, crop conditions, logistics, and livestock economics across U.S. agriculture, prepared by RFD-TV Markets Specialist Tony St. James, for the week of Monday, November 24, 2025.
According to November’s Cattle on Feed Report, Nebraska now leads the nation in cattle feeding as tighter supplies continue to reshape regional market power and long-term price dynamics.
Lower U.S. and Mexican production means tighter sugar supplies and greater reliance on imports headed into 2026.

Tony St. James joined the RFD-TV talent team in August 2024, bringing a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to RFD-TV and Rural Radio Channel 147 Sirius XM. In addition to his role as Market Specialist (collaborating with Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady to provide radio and TV audiences with the latest updates on ag commodity markets), he hosts “Rural America Live” and serves as talent for trade shows.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Reliable waterways lower costs, protect export demand, and support long-term farm profitability.
Strong White House backing supports ethanol demand, but timing now hinges on Congress resolving procedural — at the same time as they push toward a spending bill to avert another federal government shutdown.
Greater transparency into USDA-backed lending can help rural lenders and producers better assess credit availability and investment trends.
Mixed product pricing and rising milk supplies suggest margin management will remain critical as 2026 unfolds.
Corn and soybean exports continue to anchor weekly inspection totals, with China maintaining a visible role, while wheat and sorghum remain more dependent on regional and seasonal demand shifts.
Rail continues to carry a larger share of the grain load, increasing sensitivity to rail capacity, labor, and pricing conditions.
Agriculture Shows
Hosted by Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady and RFD News Markets Specialist Tony St. James, Commodity Talk delivers expert insight into the day’s ag commodity markets just before the CME opens. Only on RFD-TV and Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.
A look at the news, weather and commodities headlines that drove agriculture markets in the past week.
Everything profits from prairie. Soil, air, water — and all kinds of life! Learn how you can improve your land with prairie restoration, cover crops and prairie strips, while growing your bottom line.
Special 3-part series tells the story of the Claas family’s legacy, which changed agriculture forever.