Corn Ethanol Margins Improve – 01/16/2024
Corn ethanol processing margins have improved since completion of harvest. A partial recovery in ethanol prices has exceeded declining values of by-products like corn gluten meal. Feed stock (corn) prices have also declined and are the dominant variable force in determining corn ethanol processing profitability.
Ethanol demand is highly subsidized through the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program which requires a certain volume of biofuels, like corn ethanol, to be blended with gasoline and diesel each year. This indirectly increases demand and profits for corn ethanol processors.
| Midwest Corn Ethanol Margin | |||||
| Week ending | Margin $/Bu. | Ethanol $/Gallon | 10 % Dist Grain $/ton | Corn $Bu | year |
| 01/10/18 | $1.40 | $1.25 | $149.25 | $3.42 | 2018 |
| 1/10/2019 | $1.40 | $1.20 | $166.88 | $3.44 | 2019 |
| 1/10/2020 | $0.89 | $1.23 | $142.50 | $3.81 | 2020 |
| 1/11/2021 | $1.23 | $1.53 | $212.53 | $4.93 | 2021 |
| 1/12/2022 | $2.20 | $2.32 | $192.00 | $6.00 | 2022 |
| 1/12/2023 | $1.83 | $2.30 | $251.80 | $6.80 | 2023 |
| 1/12/2024 | $1.99 | $1.67 | $210.00 | $4.50 | 2024 |
| Price Data based on Central Illinois. | |||||