Monthly physical ethanol and advanced biofuel production in the US both declined in September from the month before, according to Environmental Protection Agency data released Thursday.
Physical ethanol production -- which the EPA puts in the renewable fuel (D6) category comprising corn-based ethanol, the main type produced in the US -- dipped about 24.4 million gallons, or 2.18%, in September from August to a five-month low of about 1.09 billion gallons, according to the EPA's Moderated Transaction System website.
With the EPA in February setting the total 2013 corn-based ethanol production target for the Renewable Fuel Standard-2 mandate at 13.8 billion gallons, production through the nine-month period ending September 30 was at 70.22% of the total mandate, with three months remaining in the year.
September advanced biofuel (D5) physical production -- mostly comprising ethanol derived from feedstock sugarcane -- fell for the first time in five months, sinking about 33.28 million gallons, or 35.82%, from August to 59.64 million gallons.
With EPA setting the total 2013 advanced biofuel production target in February at 1.47 billion gallons, advanced biofuel physical production in 2013 through September 30 was at 35.82% of the total 2013 advanced biofuel output mandate, although biomass-based diesel (D4) output could meet the remainder.
But cellulosic biofuel (D3) production was reported at 58,557 mt in September, the highest since the EPA first started tracking monthly biofuel production in July 2010. The previous record high, set in June, was 48,446 mt.
With EPA revising downward August 6 the total 2013 cellulosic biofuel production target to 6 million gallons, after initially being set in February at 14 million gallons, cellulosic biofuel physical production for the nine months through September was 2.42% of the total 2013 advanced biofuel output mandate, although both advanced biofuel and biomass-based diesel production could fulfill the target.
