WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — U.S. ethanol production was the second highest on record in December 2013, the most recent month for which data was available from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

Production totaled 1.235 billion gallons in December, second only to 1.248 billion gallons in December 2011, according to DOE data released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on March 13. December 2013 output was up 5% from November 2013 and was up 13% from December 2012.

For the calendar year, 2013 ethanol production was the second highest on record at 13.312 billion gallons, up less than 1% from 2012 but down 4% from 13.929 billion gallons in 2011.

The USDA estimated 4.648 billion bushels of corn, or about 43% of 2012 corn production, was used to produce ethanol in the marketing year 2012-13 (ended Aug. 31, 2013), down from 5 billion bushels in 2011-12 (40% of the crop). The USDA projected 2013-14 corn use for ethanol also at 5 billion bushels (36% of the crop).