A Slip in Inventories and Production Impacts Ethanol Prices in the U.S.

Texas- In the first week of May 2023, Ethanol prices remained stagnant in the U.S. market amidst the less fluctuating demand for the product from end-use manufacturing units. The country's inventories have slowed due to moderate demand and sufficient stockpile availability with end-use manufacturing units. The Ethanol blending procedure in the country is at a moderate pace as the demand for the product from domestic and international markets is efficient and operative as required by the end-use manufacturing units. Corn production in the country was sufficient, as supported by the weather conditions and the rise in demand amidst the spring season in the country. In the first week of May, Ethanol prices were observed at USD 815 per M.T., FOB Texas.

Following a White House announcement several weeks earlier, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a waiver on April 29, allowing the sale of E15 petrol this summer. Furthermore, the U.S. market has been impacted by access provided by the Japanese government a month ago. The Japanese government has allowed the U.S. government and Ethanol manufacturers to take over the overall Japanese Ethanol requirement. The Ethanol imported into Japan is Ethyl Tert-Butyl Ether (ETBE). The U.S. first gained market access following a change in Japanese regulation five years ago, coinciding with its industry's interest in the low-carbon qualities of U.S. Ethanol. Recent high increases in fuel prices have prompted regulatory changes to relieve the financial load on consumers.

U.S. farmers are advancing their spring efforts, aided by increasingly favorable weather conditions, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) weekly crop progress report noting that more than 25% of the expected Corn Crop has now been planted, with Soybeans at 20%. According to ChemAnalyst, Ethanol prices in the U.S. market will continue to fluctuate with minor variations in the country and are anticipated to decline slightly. The stockpile availability with the end-use manufacturing units has been just enough to cater to the domestic demand.