(November 1, 2010) WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. ethanol production rose in August to an all-time high, according to information from the Energy Information Administration (EIA). August 2010 ethanol production averaged more than 869,000 barrels per day (b/d). That is up from 857,000 b/d in July.

Ethanol demand, as calculated by the Renewable Fuels Association, also reached an all-time high as well at 911,000 b/d in August, up from 734,000 b/d a year ago.

EIA also reports fuel ethanol imports of just 420,000 gallons in April.

U.S. biofuel producers exported 29.6 million gallons of ethanol (both denatured and undenatured, non-beverage alcohol) in August, up 18% from July, according to government data released today. Year-to-date ethanol exports stand at 212 million gallons, nearly double the amount of total exports in 2009. Total exports in August were the third highest of the year, trailing only March and April. The U.S. remains on pace to export more than 300 million gallons of ethanol in 2010, equivalent to roughly 2.5% of expected domestic production.

In particular, exports of undenatured, non-beverage ethanol surged in August, jumping by 360% from July. Exports of undenatured, non-beverage product totaled 12.5 million gallons. The Netherlands, Philippines, Mexico, and Brazil, in that order, were top export markets for undenatured ethanol.

Denatured ethanol exports actually fell off slightly from August. Canada remained the top importer of denatured ethanol, bringing in 10.2 million gallons. Jamaica and the United Kingdom were also top importers of denatured product in August.

The RFA released the following statistics:

August 2010 Statistics
(mg = million gallons; b/d = barrels per day)

*Source: Energy Information Administration, Renewable Fuels Association
**Source: RFA calculations, does not include exports
***Source: Source: Dept. of Commerce, Census Bureau, USDA-FAS; Export figures represent sum of “Ethyl alcohol and other spirits, denatured, of any strength” and “Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of 80 percent vol. or higher.” Thus, the figures likely include ethyl alcohol exports for non-fuel industrial purposes.