(NAFB.com) – U.S. ethanol production climbed to its highest level in five weeks while inventories edged slightly higher, according to new data from the Energy Information Administration. Ethanol output averaged 1.111 million barrels per day during the week ending May 15, up from 1.082 million barrels the previous week. It marked the strongest weekly production level since April 10. The Midwest, the nation’s primary ethanol-producing region, led the increase. Production there averaged 1.056 million barrels per day, compared to 1.022 million barrels the week before, also reaching a five-week-high. East Coast production rose modestly to 13,000 barrels per day from 10,000 barrels a week earlier. Production in the Rocky Mountain and West Coast regions remained unchanged at 11,000 and 10,000 barrels per day, respectively. Meanwhile, Gulf Coast production declined to 21,000 barrels per day from 29,000 barrels the prior week. Ethanol inventories increased slightly, rising to 24.875 million barrels from 24.87 million barrels the week before.