The highs and lows of price protection

May 27, 2025 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal examines price parameters to better understand the risks and advantages of price protection.

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

Dealing with propane demand volatility

May 20, 2025 By Mark Rachal

This week, Mark Rachal, director of research and publications, examines the volatility in U.S. propane demand.

This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, Mark Rachal, propane demand, propane exports, propane imports, propane production, propane traders, tariffs, Trader's Corner and posted in Blue Flame Blog, Featured

Contangoed vs. backwardated crude price curves and propane prices

May 13, 2025 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal looks at the impact of crude forward price curves on propane prices.

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

Fractionation more of a contributor to inventory tightness than originally thought

May 5, 2025 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal explains how fractionator throughput has contributed to propane inventory tightness.

This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, fractionation, fractionator, Mark Rachal, propane demand, propane inventories, propane inventory, Trader's Corner, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) and posted in Blue Flame Blog, Featured

Update: Solving for the unknown in crazy April propane prices

April 28, 2025 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal, director of research and publications, gives an update on last week’s conundrum of April’s propane forward price curve.

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

Solving for the unknown in crazy April propane prices

April 22, 2025 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal, director of research and publications for Cost Management Solutions, examines propane’s current forward price curve.

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

Propane marketers can reassess and repurpose tank assets that are already in the field to avoid buying new tanks at relatively high prices. (Photo by LP Gas staff)

Trading versus hedging in propane futures

April 15, 2025 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal, director of research and publications, explains key concepts in propane futures.

This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, financial hedging, Mark Rachal, propane traders, Trader's Corner and posted in Blue Flame Blog, Featured

Far-out thoughts on buying propane

April 7, 2025 By Mark Rachal

This week, Mark Rachal, director of research and publications, discusses the historical averages and the future of buying propane.

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

Playing the averages may mean missing an opportunity

April 1, 2025 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal, director of research and publications, warns against getting price protection for the next winter.

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

$Chart 1: Fractionated vs non-fractionated propane inventories$

Ready-for-sale propane data making an impact

March 25, 2025 By Mark Rachal

This week, Mark Rachal, director of research and publications, revisits the ready-for-sale propane data point.

This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, Mark Rachal, propane demand, propane inventories, propane prices, propane traders, Trader's Corner, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) and posted in Blue Flame Blog, Featured

TAG: Mark Rachal