WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. ethanol production continued on a record pace in February. According to information from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), February 2010 ethanol production averaged more than 833,000 barrels per day (b/d). That is an increase of 186,000 b/d over February 2009.

Ethanol demand, as calculated by the Renewable Fuels Association, also reached an all time high at 795,000 b/d in February, up from 595,000 b/d a year ago.

EIA also reports fuel ethanol imports of 1.1 million gallons in February.

The RFA released the following statistics:

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

 
Source: Energy Information Administration, Renewable Fuels Association

“American ethanol markets are nearly full do to the arbitrary 10% restriction EPA currently enforces on ethanol blending,” said RFA President Bob Dinneen. “EPA must approve the use of up to 15% ethanol in all vehicles. Its current plan to bifurcate the market would leave up to 40% of the gasoline market shut out of using ethanol blends and create unnecessary confusion in the market.”