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.
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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.
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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.
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Evaluating the state of crude prices
July 10, 2023 By Mark Rachal
If crude prices stay where they are or trend higher, it won’t take much improvement in the propane fundamental picture to see a rapid rise in propane’s price.
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Propane inventory possibilities to start the winter
June 26, 2023 By Mark Rachal
Mark Rachal of Cost Management Solutions looks at the high, low and average propane inventory builds from this point in the year to the first week of October.
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Propane prices point to buying opportunity
June 20, 2023 By Mark Rachal
The worst enemy of a good buying opportunity is the hope of a perfect buying opportunity, according to Mark Rachal of Cost Management Solutions.
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Crude releases could make propane buyers complacent
April 17, 2023 By Mark Rachal
Cost Management Solutions’ Mark Rachal evaluates how releases from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve will impact prices.
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Crude could push propane prices
April 10, 2023 By Mark Rachal
Because propane is a byproduct, its price is heavily influenced by what is going on with other commodities, namely crude and NGLs.
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Conway gains in value relative to Mont Belvieu
October 15, 2020 By Mark Rachal
Despite high inventory levels at the propane trading hubs currently, we remain concerned about the potential for local market supply shortages during high winter demand periods.
Read More Crude prices trend downward as demand growth stalls
September 9, 2020 By Mark Rachal
Cost Management Solutions’ benchmark prices are at 50 cents per gallon for Mont Belvieu LST and $42 per barrel for WTI crude, but there is potential for a drop.
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