FINWIRES · TerminalLIVE
FINWIRES

Ethanol Makers' Corn Use Unchanged for 2025-2026, Soybean Oil Use for Biodiesel Rises, USDA Says

By

Ethanol makers will use 5.6 billion bushels of corn in the 2025-2026 marketing year that started on Sept. 1, the US Department of Agriculture forecast in a monthly report Tuesday.

The figure is unchanged from the April outlook for 5.6 billion bushels, according to the report.

Total US corn use for 2025/26 is forecast at 16.46 billion bushels. That's slightly below 16.47 bb in last month's outlook.

The USDA's first estimate for corn use for ethanol in 2026-2027 was pegged at 5.6 bb, with total US corn use at 16.20 bb.

Biodiesel makers will use 14.2 billion pounds of soybean oil in the 2025-2026 marketing year, which began Oct. 1. That's up from 14 billion pounds from the April outlook, and higher than the 11.8 billion pounds used in the 2024/2025 marketing year.

The USDA estimated US soybean oil 2025/2026 ending stocks at 1.86 billion pounds, up from 1.84 billion pounds in April.

For its first projections for 2026-2027, the USDA pegged soybean oil use for biodiesel at 17.8 billion pounds, effective Oct. 1.

The USDA estimated US soybean oil 2026/2027 ending stocks at 1.90 billion pounds.

Related Articles

Commodities

EIA Expects 2027 Ethanol Daily Output to Hold Steady, Biodiesel Production to Grow

The Energy Information Administration projected ethanol production at 1.10 million barrels per day for 2026 and 2027, in its May Short-Term Energy Outlook released on Tuesday.In its report, EIA projected biodiesel output of 100,000 b/d in 2026 and 110,000 b/d in 2027.Renewable diesel production for 2026 was projected at 240,000 b/d, while the daily average output for 2027 was projected at 290,000 b/d.The EIA projected 2026 ethanol consumption at 940,000 b/d, and held 2027 consumption at the same level.For biodiesel, 2026 consumption was projected at 110,000 b/d, while 2027 was projected at 120,000 b/d.Renewable diesel consumption was estimated at 220,000 b/d in 2026, while 2027 consumption was projected at 300,000 b/d.The outlook projected ethanol stocks at the end of the 2026 marketing year at 25.09 million barrels, while 2027 ending stocks are seen at 25.06 mmbbls.The EIA forecasts revealed biodiesel ending stocks for the 2026 marketing year at 3.25 mmbbls, while 2027 ending stocks are seen at 3.32 mmbbls.The EIA's outlook pegged renewable diesel 2026 ending stocks at 7.03 mmbbls, while 2027 ending stocks are seen at 8.07 mmbbls.

Commodities

EMEA Natural Gas Update: Rhetoric and Supply Disruptions Continue to Support Market

European natural gas futures gave back earlier gains in late trading on Tuesday but still closed higher, as markets reacted to escalating geopolitical rhetoric alongside ongoing supply constraints in Europe.The front-month Dutch TTF contract rose 0.696% to 46.555 euros ($54.63) per megawatt-hour, while the UK NBP front-month rose 1.058% to 114.63 British pence ($1.55) per therm.Sentiment was underpinned by continued Middle East risk after Iranian parliamentary national security and foreign policy commission spokesperson Ebrahim Rezaei said Tehran could consider doubling down on enriching uranium if attacked again. "One of Iran's options in the event of another attack could be 90 percent enrichment," Rezaei said in a social media post, adding the issue would be reviewed in parliament, news outlets reported.News reports also indicated that at least one additional LNG carrier had moved through the embattled Strait of Hormuz over the weekend. Bloomberg said a second Qatari LNG tanker had exited the strait, with the vessel Mihzem later tracked in the Gulf of Oman en route to Pakistan and appearing fully laden.Meanwhile, European supply fundamentals remained tight. Norway's Hammerfest LNG terminal, one of the region's key export facilities, is still offline due to a mechanical valve fault that halted production last week. The plant, which has a capacity of roughly 18.4 million cubic meters per day, is scheduled to restart at 1800 GMT on Wednesday, Reuters reported.Weather models added a mixed signal for demand. Atmospheric G2 flagged the possibility of a cooler, windier pattern moving in from the northeast around May 25, which could lift heating demand later in the month.On storage, Gas Infrastructure Europe data showed EU gas inventories at 35.36% of capacity, sharply below 42.82% at the same point last year, underscoring some of the region's challenges heading into the refill season.

Commodities

Eni Tests HVO Biofuel on MSC Cruise Ship, Cuts GHG Emissions by 80%

Eni (E) and MSC Cruises completed a 2,000-hour marine biofuel trial that cut greenhouse gas emissions by about 80%, Eni said Tuesday.Eni and MSC Cruises tested Enilive's Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil diesel on the cruise ship MSC Opera without modifying the vessel's engine.One of the MSC Opera engines was powered with 100% HVO fuel for about 2,000 hours while recording engine efficiency and emissions performance data during the trial.The trial showed that marine engines can use pure HVO biofuel immediately without technological upgrades, while maintaining performance levels similar to those of conventional fossil marine fuels, Eni said.The trial reduced nitrogen oxide emissions by 16%, lowered particulate emissions and cut life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions by around 80% versus traditional marine fuels through the use of fully biogenic HVO feedstocks.Wartsila supported the collection and evaluation of engine data during the tests, while Bureau Veritas independently certified the experimental results, according to Eni.HVO biofuel offers an immediate solution for shipping companies seeking to meet FuelEU Maritime emissions targets and lower compliance costs, Enilive Chief Executive Officer Stefano Ballista said.Enilive produces HVO at biorefineries in Venice and Gela using waste materials including used cooking oil, animal fats and agri-food industry residues, Ballista added.HVO, liquefied natural gas and bio-LNG can accelerate shipping decarbonization as MSC targets net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, MSC Cruises Chief Energy Transition Officer Michele Francioni said.Price: $55.52, Change: $+0.05, Percent Change: +0.10%

$E