The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released the figures in its monthly feedstock data. Feedstock use across all categories totaled 30,702 million pounds in August, compared with 31,275 million pounds in July.
Biofuel producers used 26.8 billion pounds of corn in August, up 0.7% from July and 4.2% above the 25.7 billion pounds used in August 2025, according to EIA. At 56 pounds per bushel, the August figure works out to roughly 479 million bushels.
Grain sorghum use fell to 341 million pounds from 449 million pounds in July, a 24% drop.
The decline came mostly from fats and oils. Soybean oil use fell 17% to 1.4 billion pounds from 1.69 billion pounds in July. The drop came largely from renewable diesel plants, which used 625 million pounds of soybean oil, down from 871 million pounds. Biodiesel plants used 775 million pounds, down from 816 million pounds.
Distillers corn oil use fell to 373 million pounds from 453 million pounds, and tallow fell 34% to 511 million pounds from 771 million pounds. Yellow grease was nearly flat at 607 million pounds.
Canola oil was the one major oil to gain, rising to 381 million pounds from 330 million pounds as renewable diesel plants increased their use.
For soybean crushers, the August data show a weaker month for a key oil outlet, with soybean oil use at renewable diesel plants down 28% from July. Corn use, meanwhile, ran ahead of last year's pace.
EIA does not explain the month-to-month changes in its feedstock tables. Under its release schedule, EIA publishes the data on the last business day of each month, about two months after the production month, so September figures are due at the end of November.
