Grainnet

Renewable Fuels Association Releases August 2007 Ethanol Production and Demand Report

Washington, DC--Ethanol production continued to grow in July, averaging 434,000 barrels per day (b/d) according to the Energy Information Administration.

Ethanol demand, as calculated by the Renewable Fuels Association, also increased to 464,000 b/d.

To date, the U.S. is averaging 402,000 b/d with average demand exceeding production at nearly 429,000 b/d.

The RFA released the following statistics:

August 2007 Statistics (mg = million gallons; b/d = barrels per day)

• Fuel Ethanol Production 565.2 mg... 434,000 b/d

• Fuel Ethanol Use 605.9 mg... 465,000 b/d

• Fuel Ethanol Stocks 433.0 mg... 22.2 days of reserve

• Fuel Ethanol Exports 0.0mg^... n/a

• Fuel Ethanol Imports 66.4 mg*... 51,000 b/d

*Source: U.S. International Trade Commission

^ Jim Jordan and Associates

America’s ethanol producers are responding to overwhelming public support for renewable fuels like ethanol.

According to a new national poll, 74 percent of Americans believe we should be using more renewable fuels and 87 percent believe that the federal government should actively support the development of a domestic renewable fuels industry.

Additionally, the poll also found that nearly half of American’s blame higher oil prices for rising food costs.

In fact, just seven percent of all Americans believe ethanol production is the root cause of increasing food prices.

Beyond oil prices, increased global demand, adverse weather events like droughts and food company greed all polled higher than ethanol as the chief reason for higher consumer food costs.

The poll was conducted October 23-25 by the Mellman Group and was commissioned by the RFA as part of the Renewable Fuels Now Coalition.

It surveyed 1,000 adults.

Currently, 131 ethanol biorefineries nationwide have a capacity to produce more than 7 billion gallons annually.

Additionally, 73 biorefineries are under construction and 10 are expanding which will add more than 6.5 billion gallons of new production capacity by 2010.

For more information, call Matt Hartwig at 202-289-3835.