Top 10: The best of Trader’s Corner 2023

December 26, 2023 By Brian Richesson

This year’s Trader’s Corner reports featured records, refreshers and other market insights from Mark Rachal of Cost Management Solutions.

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

Chart 2: Midwest Propane Inventory

Calling on winter propane demand

December 18, 2023 By Mark Rachal

This week, Mark Rachal, director of research and publications at Cost Management Solutions, analyzes propane demand and the current weather forecast for this winter.

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This article is tagged with bobtail drivers, Cost Management Solutions, customer retention, domestic demand, Mark Rachal, propane demand, propane supply and demand, Trader's Corner, weather, winter and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Chart 5: Mont Belvieu Propane Dec. 5

Speculative propane trading suggests prices could rise

December 11, 2023 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal reviews the latest report from the Commodities Futures Trading Commission and what the industry needs to know about speculative propane trading.

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This article is tagged with Conway, Cost Management Solutions, Mark Rachal, Mont Belvieu, propane fundamentals, propane price, propane prices, Trader's Corner and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Chart 1: Crude Weekly Commercial Inventories 2018 Forward

What lower crude demand in the US means for propane retailers

December 4, 2023 By Mark Rachal

Trader’s Corner, a weekly partnership with Cost Management Solutions, analyzes propane supply and pricing trends. This week, Mark Rachal,…

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This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, exports, inventory, Mark Rachal, Mont Belvieu, pipeline, propane demand, propane exports, propane fundamentals, propane inventories, propane inventory, propane price, propane prices, Trader's Corner, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), winter, WTI and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Photo by LP Gas staff

Solving the mystery of propane forwards

November 27, 2023 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal, director of research and publications for Cost Management Solutions, describes how propane forwards function.

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

Photo: tttuna/E+/Getty Images

EIA to provide new propane data point

November 20, 2023 By Mark Rachal

The Energy Information Administration will provide a new data point in its Weekly Petroleum Status Report that will benefit those in the propane industry.

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

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

Weaker crude puts propane into counter-seasonal pricing trend

November 13, 2023 By Mark Rachal

Cost Management Solutions encourages caution about the second half of this winter given the high inventory positions and concerns for propane demand.

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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, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), winter and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Chart 2: US Propane/Propylene Production 2018 Forward (Chart: Cost Management Solutions)

Propane exports key to winter pricing

November 6, 2023 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal, director of research and publications for Cost Management Solutions, examines various scenarios for propane exports that could happen this winter.

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This article is tagged with China, Cost Management Solutions, domestic demand, exports, inventory, Mark Rachal, Mont Belvieu, propane dehydrogenation (PDH), propane demand, propane exports, propane fundamentals, propane inventories, propane inventory, propane prices, Trader's Corner, winter and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Chart 2: Total US Propane/Propylene Inventory (Cost Management Solutions)

Propane is a cheap Btu

October 30, 2023 By Mark Rachal

Cost Management Solutions’ Mark Rachal, director of research and publications, discusses propane’s relative value to crude and inventory options this winter.

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This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, crude, crude inventory, financial hedging, inventory, Mark Rachal, Mont Belvieu, propane fundamentals, propane inventories, propane inventory, propane prices, Trader's Corner, weather, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), winter and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Photo: tttuna/E+/Getty Images

Potential end-of-winter inventory positions

October 23, 2023 By Mark Rachal

This Trader’s Corner reviews end-of-winter inventory positions since 2015 and evaluates possibilities for inventory at the end of winter 2023-24.

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This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, crop drying, Department of Labor (DOL), El Niño, Mark Rachal, Mont Belvieu, propane fundamentals, propane inventories, propane inventory, propane prices, Trader's Corner, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), winter and posted in Blue Flame Blog