Overview
Society has just begun to tap new renewable sources of energy from agriculture and forestlands on a commercial scale that impacts energy markets. Among these sources are biofuels, a small but expanding component of current fuel consumption in the U.S. transport sector. In 2011, biofuels accounted for roughly 10.6 percent of total transport fuel consumption, or 14.8 billion gallons, up from 13.2 billion gallons the previous year. Ethanol, made mostly from corn starch from kernels, is by far the most significant biofuel in the United States, accounting for 98 percent of all biofuel production in 2011. Most of the remainder is biodiesel, which is made from vegetable oils (chiefly soy oil) as well as animal fats, waste oils, and greases.
The U.S. Bioenergy Statistics are a source of information on biofuels intended to present a picture of the renewable energy industry and its relationship to agriculture. Where appropriate, data are presented in both a calendar year and the relevant marketing year timeframe to increase utility to feedstock-oriented users. The statistics highlight the factors that influence the demand for agricultural feedstocks for biofuels production; for instance, numerous tables emphasize the relationship between energy and commodity markets.
ERS analysts track U.S. ethanol and biodiesel production, consumption, and trade. They also monitor and analyze U.S. bioenergy policy and events that affect the domestic and international biofuel and feedstock markets. Additional tables will be added as new series become available.
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| Supply and Disappearance | Back to top |
| Table 1--Fuel ethanol supply and disappearance, marketing year and quarter |  | 2/13/2013 | 3/6/2013 |
| Table 2--Fuel ethanol supply and disappearance calendar year | | 1/23/2013 | 3/6/2013 |
| Table 3--Fuel ethanol supply and disappearance, by month | | 2/13/2013 | 3/6/2013 |
| Table 4--Biodiesel supply and disappearance | | 2/13/2013 | 3/6/2013 |
| Feedstocks | Back to top |
| Table 5--Corn supply, disappearance and share of total corn used for ethanol | | 2/13/2013 | 3/13/2013 |
| Table 6--Soybean oil supply, disappearance and share of biodiesel use | | 1/23/2013 | 7/24/2013 |
| Table 7--Oils and fats supply and prices, marketing year | | 1/23/2013 | 7/24/2013 |
| Coproducts | Back to top |
| Table 9--Dried distillers grain with solubles price, marketing year | | 2/13/2013 | 3/13/2013 |
| Infrastructure | Back to top |
| Table 10--Fuel ethanol production facilities capacity and utilization rates, calendar year | | 1/23/2013 | 7/24/2013 |
| Table 11--Fuel ethanol production facilities capacity and utilization rates, by state, January 2012 | | 1/23/2013 | 7/24/2013 |
| Table 12--Biodiesel: Production capacity, by State | | 1/23/2013 | 7/24/2013 |
| Table 13--Alternative fuel stations | | 1/23/2013 | 7/24/2013 |
| Prices | Back to top |
| Table 14--Fuel ethanol, corn and gasoline prices, by month | | 2/13/2013 | 3/13/2013 |
| Table 15--Fuel ethanol, corn and gasoline prices, marketing year | | 2/13/2013 | 3/13/2013 |
| Table 16--Fuel ethanol and gasoline consumption and market share | | 1/23/2013 | 3/6/2013 |
| Table 17--Biodiesel and diesel prices | | 2/13/2013 | 3/13/2013 |
| Next-Generation Biofuels | Back to top |
| Table 19--EPA second-generation biofuel plant volumes | | 1/23/2013 | 7/24/2013 |