Ethanol industry sets new annual production record

WASHINGTON – According to the Renewable Fuels Association, the domestic ethanol industry set an annual production record of 3.4 billion gallons in 2004, an increase of 21 percent from 2.81 billion gallons in 2003.
Monthly record. According to data from the Energy Information Administration, December’s 232,000 barrels per day of ethanol production tied the all-time monthly record set in November.
Production in December of 2003 was 207,000 barrels per day. U.S. petroleum companies utilized a record 3.53 billion gallons of ethanol in 2004.
Imported ethanol. Adding to the 3.4 billion gallons of U.S production, 160 million gallons of ethanol were imported according to the U.S. International Trade Commission.
However, U.S. ethanol stocks increased 31 million gallons during the year according to the Energy Information Administration.