Total U.S. operable biofuels production capacity fell slightly in December, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Total feedstock consumption was up when compared to both the previous month and December 2022.

Total biofuels capacity reached 23.759 billion gallons per year in December, down 6 MMgy when compared to the previous month, but 1.553 billion gallons when compared to December 2022.

Fuel ethanol capacity was maintained at 17.829 billion gallons per year in December, flat with the November, but up 652 MMgy when compared to December of the previous year. 

Capacity for renewable diesel and associated fuels, including renewable heating oil, renewable jet fuel, renewable naphtha, renewable gasoline and other biofuels and biointermediates, was at 3.857 billion gallons per year in December, a level that has been maintained since October. When compared to December 2022, capacity for renewable diesel and associated fuels was up 918 MMgy. 

Biodiesel capacity was at 2.073 billion gallons per year in December, down 6 MMgy when compared to the previous month and down 17 MMgy when compared to December 20022. 

 U.S. biofuel producers consumed 30.503 billion pounds of feedstock in December, up from 28.615 billion pounds in November and 26.284 billion pounds in December 2022. Consumption was up for both feedstocks typically used to produce ethanol and feedstocks typically used to produce biodiesel and renewable diesel. 

U.S. biofuel producers consumed 27.104 billion pounds of corn in December, up from 25.608 billion pounds the previous month and 23.844 billion pounds in December of the previous year. Grain sorghum consumption was at 48 million pounds in December, down from both 78 million pounds in November and 308 million pounds in December 2022.

Approximately 1.141 billion pounds of soybean oil went to biofuel production in December, including 603 million pounds consumed by biodiesel plants and 539 million pounds consumed by renewable diesel facilities. Soybean oil consumption was at 1.062 billion pounds in November, including 613 million pounds consumed by biodiesel plant sand 449 million pounds consumed by renewable diesel producers, and at 886 million pounds in December of the previous year, with 534 million pounds of that volume consumed by biodiesel producers and 352 million pounds consumed by renewable diesel facilities. 

Corn oil consumption was at 349 million pounds in December, down slightly from 353 million pounds the previous month, but up from 286 million pounds in December 2022. Biodiesel producers consumed 63 million pounds of corn oil in December, while renewable diesel producers consumed 286 million pounds. The EIA withheld data on the volume of corn oil consumed by producer type in November to avoid disclosure of individual company data. The agency did not begin breaking down corn oil consumption by producer type until August 2023, so that data is not available for December 2022. 

Biofuel producers consumed 343 million pounds of canola oil in December, with 150 million gallons consumed by biodiesel producers and 193 million gallons consumed by renewable diesel producers. Total canola oil consumption was up when compared to November, with consumption was at 291 million pounds, including 138 million pounds consumed by biodiesel producers and 138 million pounds consumed by renewable diesel producers. Canola oil consumption was at 171 million pounds in December 2022, but the EIA did not begin breaking down consumption by producer type until August 2023. In addition, biofuel producers consumed 4 million gallons of feedstock classified as other vegetable oils in December. 

Biofuel producers also consumed 744 million pounds of beef tallow, 642 million pounds of yellow grease, 40 million pounds of white grease, and15 million pounds of poultry fat in December. Consumption was at 467 million pounds, 626 million pounds, 34 million pounds, 20 million pounds, respectively, in November and at 198 million pounds, 463 million pounds, 48 million pounds, and 18 million pounds, respectively, in December of the previous year. Biofuel producers also consumed 17 million pounds of feedstock classified as other waste fats, oils and greases in December, flat with the previous month. The EIA withheld data on the consumption of other waste fats, oils and greases in December 2022 to avoid disclosure of individual company data. 

According to EIA, biofuel producers also consumed approximately 55 million pounds of feedstock classified as other recycled feeds and waste in December, down from 60 million pounds in November and 63 million pounds in December 2022. The agency withheld data on the consumption of several feedstocks, including other agricultural and forestry products, yard and food waste, and other feedstocks not elsewhere specified or identified to avoid disclosure of individual company data. 

Additional data is available on the EIA website.