Operable U.S. biofuel production capacity expanded slightly in March, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration on May 30. Feedstock consumption was up when compared to the previous month, but down from March 2024.

Total U.S. biofuel production capacity reached 25 billion gallons in March, up 10 MMgy when compared to the previous month, and up 1.274 billion gallons when compared to the same month of last year. 

Ethanol capacity reached 18.436 billion gallons in March, up 10 MMgy when compared to February and up 551 MMgy when compared to March 2024. 

Biodiesel capacity was at 1.984 billion gallons in March, unchanged when compared to both the previous two month and March of last 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 4.58 billion gallons, a volume of capacity that has held steady since September 2024. When compared to March 2024, capacity was up 723 MMgy. 

Total feedstock consumption reached 28.513 billion pounds in March, up from 26.079 billion pounds in February, but down when compared to the 29.51 billion pounds of feedstock consumed in March of last year. 

Biofuel producers consumed 25.362 billion pounds of corn in March, up from 23.617 billion pounds the previous month, but down from 26.436 billion pounds in March 2024. Grain sorghum consumption expanded to 447 million pounds in March, up from 371 million pounds in February and 91 million pounds in March of last year. 

Soybean oil consumption rebounded to 832 million pounds in March, with 502 million pounds of that volume consumed by biodiesel plants and 331million pounds consumed by renewable diesel facilities. Soybean oil consumption was at 576 million pounds in February, including 425 million pounds consumed for biodiesel and 151 million pounds consumed for renewable diesel, and at 1.026 billion pounds in March 2024, including 548 million pounds consumed for biodiesel and 479 million pounds consumed for renewable diesel. 

Corn oil consumption expanded to 385 million pounds in March, up from 290 million pounds in February and 322 million pounds in March 2024. Canola oil consumption was at 234 million pounds in March, up from 92 million pounds the previous month, but down from 326 million pounds in March of last year. The EIA withheld data on corn oil and canola oil consumption by facility type to avoid disclosure of individual company data. 

Biofuel producers also consumed 704 million pounds of tallow, 487 million pounds of yellow grease, and 51 million pounds of white grease in March. Consumption was at 630 million pounds, 460 million pounds, and 42 million pounds, respectively, in February, and at 586 million pounds, 635 million pounds, and 68 million pounds, respectively, in March 2024. Biofuel producers also consumed 10 million pounds of other forms of waste oils, fats and greases in March, down from 20 million pounds during the same month of last year. The EIA withheld data on the volume of other waste oils, fats and greases consumed as biofuel feedstock in February to avoid disclosure of individual company data. 

The EIA also withheld March consumption data on a variety of feedstock types, including agriculture and forestry residues; other agriculture and forestry products; poultry fat; other vegetable oils; other recycled feeds and wastes; and other biofuel feedstocks not elsewhere specified or identified in order to avoid disclosure of individual company data. 

Additional data is available on the EIA website.