Chart 4: Temperature Outlook for Jan. 11-15, 2024 (Chart: EIA)

Propane inventory adjustment could spike prices

January 8, 2024 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal of Cost Management Solutions discusses the current state of U.S. propane inventory and the expected impact on pricing this winter.

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This article is tagged with Conway, Cost Management Solutions, domestic demand, Mark Rachal, Mont Belvieu, propane demand, propane prices, propane supply and demand, Trader's Corner, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 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

Featured photo: Nikada/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

December 2023: Propane spot prices

December 8, 2023 By LP Gas

The U.S. Energy Information Administration began forecasting spot prices at Mont Belvieu with its September Short-Term Energy Outlook.

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This article is tagged with December 2023, Gulf Coast, Mont Belvieu, petrochemicals, propane prices, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) and posted in Propane Market Metrics

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 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

Chart 1: Total US Propane Exports 2018 Forward

Weak propane prices expected despite strong export activity

October 16, 2023 By Mark Rachal

Cost Management Solutions’ bias toward a weaker propane prices is based primarily on its outlook for domestic propane demand.

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