U.S. operable biofuels capacity was at 24.9 billion gallons per year in August, down slightly from the previous month, according to data released by the U.S Energy Information Administration on Oct. 31. Feedstock consumption was up when compared to the previous year.

The 24.9 billion gallons per year of biofuel capacity reported for August was down 27 MMgy when compared to July, but up 1.405 billion gallons per year when compared to August 2023. 

Ethanol capacity was at 18.307 billion gallons per year in August, unchanged from the prior month, but up 590 MMgy when compared to the same month of last year. 

Biodiesel capacity fell to 1.995 billion gallons per year in August, down 27 MMgy when compared to July and down 89 MMgy when compared to August 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, remained at 1.598 billion gallons per year in August, unchanged from July but up 894 MMgy when compared to August 2023.

According to the EIA, U.S. biofuel producers consumed approximately 30.46 billion pounds of feedstock in August, down from 30.7 billion pounds the previous month, but up from 28.053 billion pounds in August of last year.  

Biofuel producers consumed 26.855 billion pounds of corn in August, down from 27.097 billion pounds the previous month, but up from 24.735 billion pounds in August 2023. Grain sorghum consumption reached 152 million pounds, up from 137 million pounds in July, but down from 275 million pounds in August of last year. 

A total of 1.217 billion pounds of soybean oil was consumed by biofuel producers in August, including 636 million pounds consumed by biodiesel plants and 581 million pounds consumed by renewable diesel facilities. Soybean oil consumption was at 1.139 billion pounds in July, with 642 million pounds of that volume going to biodiesel plants and 497 million pounds going to renewable diesel production, and at 1.192 million pounds in August 2023, with consumption at 618 million pounds and 575 million pounds, respectively, for biodiesel producers and renewable diesel facilities. 

Canola oil consumption was at 440 million pounds in August, with 168 million pounds going to biodiesel production and 272 million pounds going to renewable diesel production. Approximately 546 million pounds of canola oil was consumed in July, with 139 million pounds of that volume going to biodiesel production and 407 million pounds going to renewable diesel production. Canola oil consumption was at 278 million pounds in August of last year, including 174 million pounds consumed by biodiesel plants and 104 million pounds consumed by renewable diesel facilities. 

Corn oil consumption expanded to 422 million pounds in August, up from both 349 million pounds in July and 371 million pounds in August of last year. Biodiesel producers consumed 90 million pounds of corn oil in August, 85 million pounds in July and 88 million pounds in Augus to of last year. Renewable diesel producers consumed 331 million pounds of corn oil in August, up from 264 million pounds in July and 283 million pounds in August 2023.

Biofuel producers also consumed 695 million pounds of yellow grease, 576 million pounds of tallow, 58 million pounds of white grease, and 24 million pounds of poultry fat in August. Consumption was at 657 million pounds, 665 million pounds, 68 million pounds and 23 million pounds, respectively in July, and at 611 million pounds, 451 million pounds, 60 million pounds and 16 million pounds, respectively, in August of last year. 

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

Additional data is available on the EIA website.