Ethanol Output Rises as Corn Demand Signals Strengthen

Corn demand received another boost last week as ethanol production climbed to a five-week high.

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, TN (RFD NEWS) — Ethanol production moved higher again last week, giving corn demand another supportive signal during a volatile input and fuel market.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows production reached a five-week high of 1.11 million barrels per day.

That equals 46.66 million gallons per day, or an annualized pace of 16.22 billion gallons. Using a rough 2.8 gallons of ethanol per bushel of corn, that pace implies about 5.79 billion bushels of annualized corn use.

Output was 7.2 percent above the same week last year and 9.7 percent above the five-year average. Ethanol stocks held near 24.9 million barrels, slightly below last year but above the five-year average.

Gasoline supplied rose slightly to 8.77 million barrels per day, while blender inputs climbed to 917,000 barrels per day.

Exports slipped 8 percent to 6.3 million gallons per day.

Farm-Level Takeaway: Strong ethanol production supports corn demand, but gasoline use, inventories, and export movement remain important watch points.
Tony St. James, RFD News Markets Specialist
Related Stories
Partnership helps power homes while supporting a fifth-generation farm
A prolonged Iran ceasefire offers limited relief as fertilizer concerns persist, prompting U.S. policy shifts and driving farmers to reconsider crop acreage.
California rewards low-carbon ethanol, not higher blending volumes.
Rep. Dusty Johnson of South Dakota joined us to discuss rising input costs, proposed fertilizer legislation, and potential support for farmers navigating tight margins.
As AI-driven data centers expand in rural South Texas, local officials and economists debate water use, farmland impacts, and the balance between technology growth and agriculture preservation.
Shifts in energy demand will influence fuel, fertilizer, and input costs.

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:

USDA says both crops remain ahead of the five-year average as farmers continue monitoring dry Corn Belt conditions.
RealAg Radio’s Shaun Haney joins us to discuss Canadian farmer sentiment, saying many are also struggling with profitability and long-term outlook in agriculture.
Several fires have merged into Kansas’ largest active wildfire as crews continue battling shifting winds and dry conditions.
The Texas Agriculture Commissioner says crews are still working to contain fires while farmers and ranchers begin assessing damage.
Volunteer firefighters describe devastating scenes as crews continue battling multiple fires across the region.
Richlands Dairy & Creamery says its direct-from-farm model is helping connect consumers more closely to where their food comes from.
Agriculture Shows
As the trusted voice of the U.S. cattle and beef industry, the National Cattlemen Beef Association strives to share timely, relevant news. NCBA’s “Cattlemen to Cattlemen” is the leading TV show for beef producers to receive cattle industry news, education, and information.
America’s Heartland brings positive, heartfelt stories about American agriculture to viewers in both urban and rural areas.
Hosted by Pam Minick, “The American Rancher” focuses on the people and places that make ranching an American lifestyle. This half-hour magazine format series features livestock producers and their ranches, animals, and ranching practices.
For the latest information on how to take your operation from good to great, tune into Ag PhD. The program includes a wide range of agronomic information from how to maximize your fertilizer program & tiling to stopping those yield-robbing insects and crop diseases and more.