Chart 1: Total United States propane/propylene inventory (Chart: Cost Management Solutions)

Propane inventories surpass 90 million barrels

August 19, 2024 By Mark Rachal

For the week ending Aug. 9, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported U.S. propane inventories exceeded the 90-million-barrel mark.

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This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, Mark Rachal, propane exports, propane inventories, propane supply and demand, Trader's Corner, U.S. propane inventory and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Chart 1: Total United States Propane/Propylene Inventory

Propane price protection preserves customers

August 12, 2024 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal explains why retailers might consider propane price protection to shield customers from price fluctuations this winter.

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This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, customer retention, domestic demand, heating oil, heating season, Mark Rachal, Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), propane demand, propane suppliers, propane supply and demand, propane traders, Trader's Corner, weather, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), winter and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Chart 1: Crude and propane closing prices, recent price history. Cost Management Solutions

Buy window for propane finally open again

August 5, 2024 By Mark Rachal

The buy window for propane has opened again for the first time since the end of May.

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This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, crude prices, Mark Rachal, pricing, propane prices, Trader's Corner and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Chart 1: Mt. Belvieu - ETR

Price protection: Getting ahead of the curve

July 29, 2024 By Mark Rachal

The summer months are usually the buying season for propane retailers trying to get price protection against higher prices for the upcoming winter, but propane retailers willing to plan further out can get ahead of the curve.

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

Chart 1: Total U.S. Propane Exports 2019 Forward

Crude inventory pattern impacts propane prices

July 22, 2024 By Mark Rachal

Propane buyers interested in getting protection against higher prices this winter have been hoping the recent run-up in propane prices would reverse itself and give them an opportunity to obtain that protection at a more favorable price.

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This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, crude inventory, exports, Gulf Coast, Gulf Coast propane inventory, inventory, Mark Rachal, propane exports, propane inventory, Trader's Corner and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Chart 1: Total US Propane Exports 2019 Forward (Chart courtesy of CMS)

Inventory movement raises questions about propane prices

July 15, 2024 By Mark Rachal

Improving the inventory position on the Gulf Coast will bring relief to propane markets and perhaps take some of the pressure off propane prices.

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This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, export, Gulf Coast, Gulf Coast propane inventory, Mark Rachal, Midwest, propane inventories, propane inventory, propane price, propane prices, propane pricing, Trader's Corner and posted in Blue Flame Blog

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

Opening the buying window

July 1, 2024 By Mark Rachal

Join Cost Management Solutions for a free 30-minute Virtual Hedging webinar on Tuesday, July 30 at 10 a.m….

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This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, customer retention, domestic demand, heating oil, heating season, Mark Rachal, price, propane demand, propane prices, propane suppliers, propane supply and demand, propane traders, Trader's Corner and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Chart 1: Cost Management Solutions

The buying window has closed

June 24, 2024 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal of Cost Management Solutions explains why the buying window for propane retailers has likely closed for the time being.

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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, propane traders, Trader's Corner, weather, winter and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Photo: tttuna/E+/Getty Images

Why get price protection at all?

June 17, 2024 By Mark Rachal

A retail propane company has physical assets, but the real value of the company is in the customers that it has worked for years to cultivate.

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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, propane traders, Trader's Corner, weather, winter and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Chart 1: US Refineries Throughput (Cost Management Solutions)

The good and bad of refinery throughput for propane

June 3, 2024 By Mark Rachal

In May, crude inventories were already trending lower, and the overall trend is likely to be downward until October.

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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, propane traders, Trader's Corner, weather, winter and posted in Blue Flame Blog