EIA: Total US biofuel capacity at 24.878 billion gallons in April

BY Erin Krueger

U.S. fuel ethanol capacity fell slightly in April, while biodiesel and renewable diesel capacity held steady, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on June 30. Feedstock consumption was down when compared to the previous month. 

Total U.S. operable biofuel capacity was at 24.878 billion gallons in April, down 122 MMgy when compared to the 15 billion gallons of capacity reported for the previous month, but up 769 MMgy when compared to the 24.109 billion gallons of capacity in place as of April 2024. 

Fuel ethanol capacity fell to 18.314 billion gallons per year in April, down 122 MMgy when compared to the 18.436 billion gallons of capacity reported for March, but up 325 MMgy when compared to the 17.989 billion gallons of capacity in place as of April 2024. 

Biodiesel capacity was at 1.984 billion gallons per year in April, a level unchanged since January. When compared to April 2024, biodiesel capacity was down 7 MMgy. 

Capacity for renewable diesel and associated fuels, including renewable heating oil, renewable jet fuel, renewable naphtha, renewable gasoline and other biofuels and biointermediates was at 4.58 billion gallons per year in April. That level of capacity has been unchanged since September 2024. When compared April 2024, capacity for renewable diesel and associated fuels was up 451 MMgy. 

Total biofuel feedstock consumption was at 26.875 billion pounds in April, down from 28.513 billion pounds in March, but up slightly when compared to the 26.836 billion pounds of feedstock consumed in April 2024. 

Biofuel producers consumed 23.702 million pounds of corn in Aprill, down from 25.362 billion pounds consumed the previous month, but up when compared to the 23.664 billion pounds of corn consumed in April of last year. 

Grain sorghum consumption expanded to 547 million pounds in April, up from 448 million pounds in March and 101 million pounds in April 2024. 

Biofuel producers also consumed 829 million pounds of soybean oil in April, with 575 million pounds of that volume going to biodiesel production and 256 million pounds going to renewable diesel production. Soybean oil consumption was at 832 million pounds in March, including 502 million pounds consumed for biodiesel and 331 million pounds consumed for renewable diesel, and at 1.07 million pounds in April 2024, including 505 million pounds consumed for biodiesel and 565 million pounds consumed for renewable diesel. 

Corn oil consumption was at 393 million pounds in April, up from 385 million pounds in March and 339 million pounds in April of last year. Canola oil consumption fell to 135 million pounds in April, down from 234 million pounds the previous month and 361 million pounds in April 2024. The EIA withheld data on corn oil and canola oil consumption by producer type for April to avoid disclosure of individual company data. 

Biofuel producers consumed 770 million pounds of tallow, 445 million pounds of yellow grease, and 54 million pounds of white grease in April. Consumption was at 704 million pounds, 487 million pounds, and 51 million pounds, respectively, in March, and at 486 million pounds, 700 million pounds and 70 million pounds, respectively, in April of last year. The EIA withheld April data on the consumption of poultry fat and other forms of waste oils, fats and greases to avoid disclosure of individual company data. 

The agency also withheld data on the consumption of agriculture and forestry residues, other forms of agriculture and forestry products, other vegetable oils, other forms of recycled feeds and wastes, and other biofuel feedstocks not elsewhere specified or identified to avoid disclosure of individual company data. 

This article has been republished from The Ethanol Magazine.