U.S. operable biofuel production capacity expanded by 237 MMgy in August, with gains for ethanol and renewable diesel, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on Oct. 31. Biofuel feedstock consumption was up when compared to the previous month.
Total biofuel capacity reached 25.29 billion gallons per year in August, up 237 MMgy when compared to the previous month and 381 MMgy when compared to the same month of last year.
Ethanol capacity expanded to 18.33 billion gallons per year in August, up 9 MMgy when compared to July and up 11 MMgy when compared to August 2024.
Biodiesel capacity was at 1.975 billion gallons per year in August, unchanged when compared to the previous month, but down 20 MMgy when compared August 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, reached 4.989 billion gallons per year in August, up 229 MMgy when compared to July and up 391 MMgy when compared to August 2024.
Biofuel producers consumed 29.016 billion pounds of feedstock in August, up nearly 5% when compared to July, but down nearly 5% when compared to August of last year.
Biofuel producers consumed 25.725 billion pounds of corn in August, up from 25.642 billion pounds the previous month, but down from 26.855 billion pounds consumed in August 2024.
Grain sorghum consumption reached 632 million pounds in August, down from 743 million pounds in July, but up from 152 million pounds in August of last year.
A total of 1.04 billion pounds of soybean oil was consumed by biofuel producers in August, including 592 million pounds consumed by biodiesel facilities and 449 million pounds consumed for renewable diesel. Soybean oil consumption was at 1.11 billion pounds in July, with 593 million pounds going to biodiesel and 516 million pounds going to renewable diesel, and at 1.22 billion pounds in August 2024, including 636 million pounds consumed for biodiesel and 581 million pounds consumed for renewable diesel.
Corn oil consumption reached 363 million pounds in August, down from 371 million pounds the previous month and 422 million pounds in August of last year. Canola oil consumption was at 270 million pounds in August, down from 219 million pounds in July and 440 million pounds in August 2024. The EIA did not break down August 2025 corn oil and canola oil consumption by producer type in order to avoid disclosure of individual company data.
Biofuel producers also consumed 622 million pounds of tallow, 312 million pounds of yellow grease and 37 million pounds of white grease in August. Consumption was at 827 million pounds, 422 million pounds and 44 million pounds, respectively, in July, and at 576 million pounds, 695 million pounds and 58 million pounds, respectively, in August of last year. Biofuel producers also consumed 14 million pounds of poultry fat in August.
The EIA withheld August consumption data on agriculture and forestry residue; other agriculture and forestry products; other fats, oils and greases; other vegetable oils; other recycled feeds and wastes; and other biofuel feedstocks not elsewhere specified or identified in order to avoid disclosure of individual company data.
