LOW PRICES FAIL TO STIMULATE FUEL ETHANOL BLENDING

摘要

Fuel ethanol consumption by the refining industry in February 2014 was 106.1 mln litres, official data showed. This compares with 118.9 mln litres in the preceding month and 101.8 mln one year ago. The average blending share stood at 6.1% vol., compared with 6.6% vol. in the prior month and 6.0% vol. one year ago. The fuel ethanol consumption so far in 2014 was 225.0 mln litres, up from 219.0 mln one year ago, up 3%. Depressed prices only had a limited impact on February blending demand from the German refining sector. Licht Interactive Data show that ARA fuel ethanol prices saw another price decline in early February towards EUR450 per m3, the lowest level since spring 2010, while gasoline prices moved up and settled at their highest since early December. However, the official data also show an increase in gasoline demand which was also up 3% on the year so far in 2014.