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Table 2: Hedge Plan Sept.-April 2024-2025 (Chart: Cost Management Solutions)

Looking forward to next winter and beyond

April 15, 2024 By Mark Rachal

In preparation for next winter, Mark Rachal focuses on the buying plan for a propane retailer that will be executed over the next couple of months.

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This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, exports, inventory, Mark Rachal, propane demand, propane exports, propane fundamentals, propane inventories, propane inventory, propane prices, Trader's Corner, weather, winter and posted in Blue Flame Blog

A lack of winter gallons and drivers challenged Proctor Gas. (Photo courtesy of Judy Taranovich)

Winter recap: Less of a stress test

April 15, 2024 By James Guyette

Propane retailers urged to avoid complacency with next year’s volumes following a mild winter heating season.

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This article is tagged with April 2024, crop drying, EDP, heating season, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Proctor Gas, Propane Gas Association of New England (PGANE), Vermont, weather, winter and posted in Current Issue, Featured, From the Magazine

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Annual Electric Power Industry Report

Tracking electric power interruptions

March 18, 2024 By LP Gas

On average, U.S. electricity customers experienced about 5 ½ hours of electricity interruptions in 2022, almost two hours less than in 2021, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

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This article is tagged with electricity, hurri, March 2024, propane market metrics, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), weather and posted in Current Issue, From the Magazine, Propane Market Metrics

Chart 1: Crude Weekly Commercial Inventories 2019 Forward (Chart: Cost Management Solutions)

Tighter refined fuels inventories could be ahead

February 26, 2024 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal, director of research and publications at Cost Management Solutions, discusses the impacts of a tighter inventory for refined fuels this summer.

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This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, crude, domestic demand, exports, Mark Rachal, natural gas liquids, NGLs, propane demand, propane exports, propane inventories, propane supply and demand, Trader's Corner, weather, winter and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Chart 1: Total Propane Demand (Chart: Cost Management Solutions)

Propane demand continues at record high

February 20, 2024 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal says it may take a while to relieve some of the recent pressure on prices but thinks inventory tightness is more temporary than systemic.

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This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, crude, domestic demand, exports, Mark Rachal, natural gas liquids, NGLs, propane demand, propane exports, propane inventories, propane supply and demand, Trader's Corner, weather, winter and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Chart 1: Crude and Propane Closing Prices (Chart: Cost Management Solutions)

Back to backwardation for crude

February 12, 2024 By Mark Rachal

This week, Mark Rachal of Cost Management Solutions explains why fundamentals are not the only factors impacting commodities trading.

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This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, crude, domestic demand, Mark Rachal, Mont Belvieu, propane demand, propane inventories, propane prices, propane pricing, propane supply and demand, Trader's Corner, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), weather, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), winter and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Chart 1: Total United States Propane/Propylene Inventory 2019 Forward (Cost Management Solutions)

Propane market reaches normalization

February 5, 2024 By Mark Rachal

Despite the recent decline in inventories and the rise in prices, the propane market simply has gone from abnormally bearish to more normalized.

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This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, crude, domestic demand, Mark Rachal, Mont Belvieu, propane demand, propane inventories, propane prices, propane pricing, propane supply and demand, Trader's Corner, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), weather, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), winter and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Chart 1: Week to Week Propane Inventory Changes

Propane inventory posts largest draw on record

January 29, 2024 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal, director of research and publications at Cost Management Solutions, evaluates the largest propane inventory draw on record.

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This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, domestic demand, Mark Rachal, Mont Belvieu, propane demand, propane prices, propane supply and demand, Trader's Corner, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), weather, winter and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Chart 1: Cost Management Solutions

Closing propane forward positions

January 22, 2024 By Mark Rachal

This week, Mark Rachal, director of research and publications, discusses the process of closing propane forward positions.

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This article is tagged with Conway, Cost Management Solutions, domestic demand, Mark Rachal, Mont Belvieu, propane demand, propane prices, propane supply and demand, Trader's Corner, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), weather, winter and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Chart 3: 8-14 Day Temperature Outlook (Chart: EIA)

Propane market reacts as feared

January 16, 2024 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal, director of research and publications at Cost Management Solutions, discusses rising crude and propane prices.

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This article is tagged with Conway, Cost Management Solutions, domestic demand, Mark Rachal, Mont Belvieu, propane demand, propane prices, propane supply and demand, Trader's Corner, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), weather, winter and posted in Blue Flame Blog