Total operable U.S. biofuel production capacity fell slightly in July, with declines for biodiesel and renewable diesel, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on Sept. 30. Ethanol capacity was up slightly and total feedstock consumption was up 2% when compared to June.
Total biofuel capacity reached 25.056 billion gallons per year in July, down 1 MMgy when compared to June, but up 117 MMgy when compared to July of last year.
U.S. ethanol capacity reached 18.321 billion gallons per year in July, up 8 MMgy when compared to the previous month and up 2 MMgy when compared to the same month of last year.
Biodiesel capacity fell to 1.975 billion gallons per year in July, down 4 MMgy when compared to June and down 47 MMgy when compared to July 2024.
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 4.76 billion gallons per year, down 4 MMgy when compared to the previous month, but up 162 MMgy when compared to July of last year.
U.S. biofuel producers consumed approximately 29.376 billion pounds of feedstock in July, up more than 2% when compared to June, but down more than 4% when compared to July 2024.
Biofuel producers consumed 25.642 billion pounds of corn in July, up from 25.026 billion pounds the previous month, but down from 27.097 billion pounds in July of last year.
Grain sorghum consumption expanded to 743 million pounds in July, up from 723 million pounds in June and 129 million pounds in July 2024.
U.S. biofuel producers consumed 1.108 billion pounds of soybean oil in July, with 593 million pounds of that volume consumed by biodiesel producers and 516 million pounds consumed by renewable diesel plants. Soybean oil consumption was at 1.045 billion pounds in June, including 533 million pounds consumed for biodiesel and 511 million pounds consumed for renewable diesel, and at 1.139 billion pounds in July 2024, with 642 million pounds consumed for biodiesel and 497 million pounds consumed for renewable diesel.
Corn oil consumption reached 371 million pounds in July, up from 345 million pounds the previous month and 349 million pounds in July of last year. Canola oil consumption fell to 219 million pounds in July, down from 239 million pounds in June and 546 million pounds in July of last year. The EIA withheld data on corn oil and canola oil consumption by producer type for July to avoid disclosure of individual company data.
Biofuel producers also consumed 827 million pounds of tallow, 422 million pounds of yellow grease and 44 million pounds of white grease in July. Consumption was at 756 million pounds, 490 million pounds, and 43 million pounds, respectively, in June, and at 665 million pounds, 657 million pounds, and 68 million pounds, respectively, in July 2024.
The EIA withheld July feedstock consumption data on agriculture and forestry residues; other types of agriculture and forestry products; poultry fat; other types of waste oils, fats and greases; other vegetable oils; other types of recycled feeds and wastes; and other feedstocks not elsewhere specified or identified in order to avoid disclosure of individual company data.
Additional information is available on the EIA website.
