Ethanol Industry Sets Record in 2005

 

March 6, 2006

The month of December also set production and demand records. Citing statistics from the U.S. International Trade Commission, the RFA released statistics on ethanol production in December, which rose 5,000 barrels per day (b/d) from the previous month to 280,000 b/d. Demand skyrocketed to 310,000 b/d, breaking the old record of 297,000 b/d.

"These figures represent not only the tremendous growth our industry is experiencing, but also the future growth that will occur," said RFA President Bob Dinneen.

"Demand for ethanol will only continue to grow as refiners remove MTBE from the marketplace and more Americans switch to this clean burning, renewable fuel," said Dinneen. "The U.S. ethanol industry, with 2.1 billion gallons of capacity currently under construction, will continue to expand to meet this soaring demand."

Currently, 95 ethanol plants have a combined production capacity of more than 4.3 billion gallons a year. There are 34 ethanol plants and nine expansions under construction with a combined annual capacity of more than 2.1 billion gallons.