Chart 1: Crude and propane closing prices

The dreaded propane price spike

January 21, 2025 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal examines the recent price spikes in both crude and propane prices.

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

Chart 1: Mt. Belvieu - ETR

Opportunities in propane prices

December 30, 2024 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal looks ahead at propane prices in the new year and beyond, and explains the relationship between propane and crude oil.

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

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 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

Image: tttuna/E+/Getty Images

Part II: Surprising discovery about propane’s monthly average prices

March 28, 2023 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal, director of research and publications with Cost Management Solutions, continues to examine propane’s monthly average prices.

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

Image: tttuna/E+/Getty Images

Surprising discovery about propane’s monthly average prices

March 21, 2023 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal, director of research and publications for Cost Management Solutions, analyzes propane’s monthly average prices.

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

Photos and videos by Allison Barwacz

Strategies for playing the current market

February 10, 2020 By Mark Rachal

In recent editions of Trader’s Corner, we discussed the ultra-low price environment for propane, how propane fundamentals have driven prices lower and more.

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This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, Mont Belvieu, propane market, propane price and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Image: Cost Management Solutions

Prices and inventory inversely correlated – with exceptions

January 13, 2020 By Mark Rachal

Propane inventory positions are a reflection of all underlying fundamental conditions, such as production, imports, exports and domestic demand.

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This article is tagged with Conway, Cost Management Solutions, Gulf Coast, Mont Belvieu, propane inventories, propane market, propane price and posted in Blue Flame Blog