The Energy Information Administration says U.S. ethanol output increased for the first time in six weeks while inventories dropped slightly. During the week ending on July 15, production rose to an average of 1.03 million barrels a day.

The EIA report says that’s up from just over one million barrels a day during the previous week, the first gain since June 10. The Midwest produces more ethanol than any other part of the U.S. and saw its output jump to an average of 973,000 barrels a day from 944,000 barrels a week earlier.

Gulf Coast output climbed to an average of 26,000 barrels a day, up from 23,000 the prior week. That’s where all of the gains took place as the Rocky Mountain region stayed steady at 15,000 barrels a day, and the West Coast output held at 9,000 barrels a day for the eighth-straight week. Inventories dropped slightly to 23.55 million barrels.