Ethanol production reaches nine-month high

American Carbon Alliance U.S. ethanol production climbed to its highest level in more than nine months, providing continued demand for corn as the fall harvest moves toward completion. The Energy Information Administration reported ethanol output averaged 1.143 million barrels per day during the week ending Oct. 30, up from 1.118 million barrels the previous week. Successful Farming reports production reached its highest level since Jan. 9. Midwestern ethanol plants accounted for most of the increase, with regional production rising to 1.09 million barrels per day from 1.062 million a week earlier. Production increased slightly along the West Coast but declined in the Gulf Coast and East Coast regions. Despite higher production, ethanol inventories fell to 24.434 million barrels, down from 24.523 million the previous week. The figures indicate continued processing activity in the ethanol industry, an important source of demand for domestically produced corn. NAFB news service