USDA says corn-for-ethanol consumption totaled 414.7 million bu. in April, below expectations for use of 427.4 million bushels. Corn-for-ethanol use fell 8.5% from March but increased 1.8% from April 2021. Total corn consumed for ethanol and other industrial purposes was 471.4 million lbs., down 7.5% from March but up 2.2% from last year.
Through the first eight months of 2021-22, corn-for-ethanol use totaled 3.577 billion bu., up 9.1% from the same period last year. To reach USDA’s forecast of 5.375 billion bu., corn-for-ethanol use must run 2.5% above year-ago during the final four months. Slower ethanol production during May is a caution flag that corn-for-ethanol use may fall a little shy of USDA’s forecast.
Dried distillers grains with solubles production totaled 1.705 million tons in April, down from 1.877 million tons in March and 1.768 million tons last year.
