ADM says 2.7 bln gallons US ethanol capacity idle

CHICAGO, Feb 3 (Reuters) - U.S. ethanol producer and grain processor Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM.N) said on Tuesday that 2.7 billion gallons of U.S. ethanol production capacity has been shut down due to weak demand and poor margins.

Ethanol plants with a production capacity of 10.2 billion gallons per year are currently operating, down from 12.9 billion, said John Rice, executive vice president, on a conference call with analysts. (Reporting by Lisa Shumaker, editing by Gerald E. McCormick)