Weekly US ethanol profits steady depite corn rise

But stronger natural gas prices were offset by higher prices for dried distiller's grain, an animal feed byproduct of making ethanol, Driscoll said.

The ethanol crush spread was steady at 37 cents per gallon, according to Reuters calculations. After conversion costs for making the fuel, including natural gas costs, ethanol producers were averaging about 15 to 25 cents per gallon in profit.

Analysts and producers have said that low profits for U.S. ethanol distillers could stay depressed until more terminals are built to help producers ease transport of the fuel from the Midwest to the coasts -- which could take 18 months to two years. (Reporting by Timothy Gardner; Editing by Walter Bagley)