Rising Ethanol Exports Drive Down U.S. Fuel Supply Reserves

Thursday, February 19, 2026 at 3:45 PM

New federal data reveals robust demand for ethanol is reducing national stockpiles compared to last year. While weekly inventories climbed to their highest point since mid-January, annual supplies remain significantly lower due to increased export activity.

Recent federal data indicates that robust market demand continues to impact ethanol inventory levels across the United States. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, current ethanol reserves stand at 25.588 million barrels, marking the peak level observed since mid-January.

Weekly figures demonstrate a mixed picture for the biofuel industry. While stockpiles increased by 340,000 barrels from the previous week, they remain 630,000 barrels below levels recorded during the same period last year.

Export activity has shown notable strength, with daily shipments averaging 177,000 barrels. This represents a substantial weekly increase of 40,000 barrels and a year-over-year gain of 39,000 barrels, highlighting growing international appetite for American-produced ethanol.

More from TV Delmarva Channel 33 News