U.S. ethanol and biodiesel capacity held steady in September, while renewable diesel capacity fell slightly, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on Nov. 29. Feedstock consumption was down when compared to the previous month.
Total U.S. operable biofuels capacity was at 24.882 billion gallons per year in September, down 18 MMgy when compared to the previous month, but up 1.387 billion gallons per year when compared to the same month of 2023.
Ethanol capacity was at 18.307 billion gallons per year in September, unchanged from the previous two months. When compared to September 2023, ethanol capacity was up 590 MMgy.
Biodiesel capacity was at 1.995 billion gallons per year in September, unchanged from the previous month, but down 79 MMgy when compared to September of last year.
Capacity for renewable diesel and associated fuels, including renewable heating oil, renewable jet fuel, renewable naphtha, renewable gasoline and other biofuels and biointermediates, fell to 4.58 billion gallons per year in September, down 18 MMgy when compared to the previous month. When compared to the same week of last year, renewable diesel capacity was up 876 MMgy.
U.S. biofuel producers consumed approximately 28.056 billion pounds of feedstock in September, down from 30.458 billion pounds in August, but up when compared to the 27.313 billion pounds of feedstock consumed in September 2023.
Biofuel producers consumed 25.046 billion pounds of corn in September, down from 26.855 billion pounds the previous month, but up from 23.991 billion pounds in September of last year. Grain sorghum consumption fell to 110 million pounds in September, down from 152 million pounds in August and 157 million pounds in September 2023.
According to the EIA, biofuel producers consumed 1.076 billion pounds of soybean oil in September, with 673 million pounds of that volume going to biodiesel production and 403 million pounds going to renewable diesel production. Soybean oil consumption was at 1.217 billion pounds in August, including 636 million pounds consumed at biodiesel plants and 581 million pounds consumed at renewable diesel facilities, and at 1.207 billion pounds in September 2023, including 620 million pounds consumed for biodiesel production and 587 million pounds consumed for renewable diesel.
Biofuel producers consumed 361 million pounds of corn oil in September, with 70 million pounds going to biodiesel plants and 291 million pounds consumed by renewable diesel facilities. Corn oil consumption was at 422 million pounds in August, with 90 million pounds consumed by biodiesel producers and 331 million pounds consumed by renewable diesel producers. Corn oil consumption was at 373 million pounds in September of last year, but the EIA withheld data on consumption by producer type to avoid disclosure of individual company data.
Approximately 289 million pounds of canola oil was used to produce biofuel in September, with 127 million pounds consumed by biodiesel producers and 162 million pounds consumed by renewable diesel producers. Canola oil consumption was at 440 million pounds the previous month, including 168 million pounds consumed for biodiesel production and 272 million pounds consumed for renewable diesel production, and at 285 million pounds in September 2023, with 161 million pounds of that volume going to biodiesel production and 124 million pounds going to renewable diesel production.
U.S. biofuel producers also consumed 587 million pounds of yellow grease, 494 million pounds of tallow, 50 million pounds of white grease, 25 million pounds of poultry fat, and 19 million pounds of other waste oils, fats and greases in September. Consumption was at 695 million pounds, 576 million pounds, 58 million pounds, 24 million pounds and 19 million pounds, respectively, in August, and at 641 million pounds 508 million pounds, 47 million pounds 17 million pounds, and 19 million pounds, respectively, in September 2023.
The EIA withheld data on the consumption of a variety of other feedstock types, including agriculture and forestry residues, other agriculture and forestry products, other vegetable oils, other recycled feeds and wastes, and other biofuel feedstocks not elsewhere specified or identified to avoid disclosure of individual company data.
Additional data is available on the EIA website.
