Chart 1: U.S. weekly crude production estimate

Crude inventories down as refineries roar

June 17, 2025 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal tries to figure out what the deal is with crude inventories.

Read More

This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, crude, crude inventory, crude production, propane traders, Trader's Corner, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) and posted in Blue Flame Blog, Featured

Photo: freezeframes/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

Correcting a common misconception about propane supply

February 25, 2025 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal explains and corrects a common misconception about propane supply and how propane is produced.

Read More

This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, crude, crude production, hydrocarbon gas liquids, Mark Rachal, natural gas, natural gas processing, propane supply, propane traders, Trader's Corner and posted in Blue Flame Blog, Featured

Chart 1: Cushing Weekly Inventories, 2018-2023

Cushing trading hub for crude becomes central focus

October 2, 2023 By Mark Rachal

Crude inventories are reaching seriously low levels in Cushing, Oklahoma, a major trading hub for the U.S. Read more about the impacts on the market.

Read More

This article is tagged with Conway, Cost Management Solutions, crude, crude inventory, crude prices, crude production, Mark Rachal, Mont Belvieu, Oklahoma, propane demand, Trader's Corner and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Chart 3: US Propane/Propylene Demand 2018 Forward

Propane prices turn lower

September 25, 2023 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal, director of research and publications with Cost Management Solutions, gives an overview of propane prices headed into winter.

Read More

This article is tagged with Conway, Cost Management Solutions, crude, crude prices, crude production, domestic demand, El Niño, Mark Rachal, Mont Belvieu, Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), propane demand, propane prices, Trader's Corner, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Chart 1: Belvieu Propane Percent of Crude (High Low Percentage 2018-2023) Chart: Cost Management Solutions

Potentially weak winter demand

September 18, 2023 By Mark Rachal

In this week’s Trader’s Corner, Mark Rachal, director of research and publications for Cost Management Solutions, discusses propane demand for the upcoming winter.

Read More

This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, crude prices, crude production, El Niño, Mark Rachal, propane fundamentals, propane prices, Trader's Corner, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Chart 2: Crude Weekly Commercial Inventories Click to enlarge

Revisiting the state of crude prices

September 11, 2023 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal, director of research and publications with Cost Management Solutions, revisits the current state of crude prices through 2024.

Read More

This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, crude prices, crude production, Mark Rachal, propane fundamentals, propane prices, Trader's Corner, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Ukraine, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Chart 3: US Propane/Propylene Demand 2018 Forward (Chart: Cost Management Solutions)

Domestic propane demand is recovering

August 7, 2023 By Mark Rachal

This week, Cost Management Solutions’ Mark Rachal examines the changes in domestic propane demand and what that might mean for the upcoming winter.

Read More

This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, crude, crude inventory, crude prices, crude production, domestic demand, Mark Rachal, Mont Belvieu, propane fundamentals, propane prices, propane traders, Trader's Corner and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Chart 2: Crude and Propane Closing Prices (Cost Management Solutions)

Part IV: Evaluating the state of crude prices

July 31, 2023 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal, director of research and publications with Cost Management Solutions, continues to evaluate the current state of crude prices.

Read More

This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, crude, crude inventory, crude prices, crude production, Mark Rachal, propane fundamentals, propane prices, Trader's Corner, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), U.S. propane market and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Chart 1: Crude Price and Active U.S. Oil Rigs (Chart: Cost Management Solutions)

Part III: Evaluating the state of crude prices

July 24, 2023 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal, director of research and publications with Cost Management Solutions, continues to evaluate the current state of crude prices.

Read More

This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, crude, crude inventory, crude prices, crude production, Mark Rachal, propane fundamentals, propane prices, Trader's Corner, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), U.S. propane market and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Chart 1: WTI Crude

Part II: Evaluating the state of crude prices

July 17, 2023 By Mark Rachal

The growing strength in crude’s price is a threat to propane retailers trying to hedge against higher prices this winter.

Read More

This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, crude, crude inventory, crude prices, crude production, Mark Rachal, Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), propane fundamentals, propane prices, Trader's Corner, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), U.S. propane market, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and posted in Blue Flame Blog