Posts by Mark Rachal

Propane fundamental support may raise prices Posted on 13 May 2019 in the Blue Flame Blog categories.

Propane supply was outpacing propane export and domestic demand this spring, which caused inventory to rise, putting downward pressure on prices. Read more»

Fuel-use propane production off to strong start Posted on 06 May 2019 in the Blue Flame Blog categories.

Total fuel-use propane production from January 2018 to this January increased. Compared with 2017, supply growth is very strong this year. Read more»

A look at US crude and the crude products balance Posted on 29 Apr 2019 in the Blue Flame Blog categories.

To evaluate the U.S.'s energy independence, we evaluate U.S. crude and the crude products balance, and which countries import our light crude. Read more»

Gulf Coast propane inventory soars Posted on 23 Apr 2019 in the Blue Flame Blog categories.

With so much production in the Midwest relative to demand potential, producers simply do not want to hold inventory there. Read more»

Inventory grows as supply outpaces demand Posted on 15 Apr 2019 in the Blue Flame Blog categories.

April is when we make the transition from monitoring heating-degree days and the impact of winter weather to more closely monitoring propane inventory to see how it is accumulating for... Read more»

Propane’s value declining due to supply imbalance Posted on 02 Apr 2019 in the Blue Flame Blog categories.

In Trader’s Corner, we have written extensively about the high growth rate in propane supply compared to the slower growth in propane exports and domestic demand. This week’s Trader’s Corner... Read more»

U.S. propane supply, export imbalance weighs on prices Posted on 26 Mar 2019 in the Blue Flame Blog categories.

In this week’s Trader’s Corner, we revisit a topic that we have discussed numerous times this year: the growth in U.S. propane production compared to propane exports. There is new... Read more»

Midwest propane inventory levels continue to drop Posted on 18 Mar 2019 in the Blue Flame Blog categories.

Midwest propane inventory fell below 10 million barrels for the week ending March 8. This comes after a 1.324-million-barrel drop. Midwest inventory is now 742,000 barrels less than it was... Read more»

US propylene inventory sets 5-year high Posted on 11 Mar 2019 in the Blue Flame Blog categories.

The propane inventory number reported each week by the Energy Information Administration also includes propylene. Propylene is a non-fuel used in the petrochemical industry primarily to make polypropylene, which is... Read more»

Propane’s relative value on the downswing Posted on 04 Mar 2019 in the Blue Flame Blog categories.

Propane values continue to retreat against WTI crude, which reflects weaker fundamental conditions for propane. Read more»