Photo credit: NASA Goddard Photo and Video

Expected La Niña could heighten hurricane season

May 20, 2024 By Brian Richesson

With a La Niña, cold waters in the Pacific Ocean push the jet stream northward, affecting the weather in and around the United States.

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This article is tagged with Energy Transfer, Mont Belvieu, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), propane exports, propane inventories, propane prices, propane retailers, Trader's Corner, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), weather, winter and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Chart 3: US Propane/Propylene Demand Week 15

Inventory build resets market

April 22, 2024 By Mark Rachal

This week, Cost Management Solutions’ Mark Rachal takes a closer look at the current market and the recent inventory build.

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This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, exports, inventory, Mark Rachal, propane demand, propane exports, propane fundamentals, propane inventories, propane inventory, propane prices, Trader's Corner, weather, winter and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Table 2: Hedge Plan Sept.-April 2024-2025 (Chart: Cost Management Solutions)

Looking forward to next winter and beyond

April 15, 2024 By Mark Rachal

In preparation for next winter, Mark Rachal focuses on the buying plan for a propane retailer that will be executed over the next couple of months.

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This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, exports, inventory, Mark Rachal, propane demand, propane exports, propane fundamentals, propane inventories, propane inventory, propane prices, Trader's Corner, weather, winter and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Chart 1: Natural Gas Inventories (2018 Forward)

Natural gas production slowing

April 8, 2024 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal, director of research and publications with Cost Management Solutions, examines why natural gas production is slowing and how it will impact propane.

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This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, exports, inventory, Mark Rachal, 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: Total United States Propane/Propylene Inventory

Propane production recovers to near-record levels

April 1, 2024 By Mark Rachal

As production has increased over the past few weeks, so have propane inventories.

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This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, exports, inventory, Mark Rachal, 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

Table: Propane Ready for Sale

Breaking down the new propane inventory number

March 18, 2024 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal, director of research and publications, explains how the Energy Information Administration’s new data point will benefit propane industry members.

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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 1: Crude Weekly Commercial Inventories 2019 Forward (Chart: Cost Management Solutions)

Tighter refined fuels inventories could be ahead

February 26, 2024 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal, director of research and publications at Cost Management Solutions, discusses the impacts of a tighter inventory for refined fuels this summer.

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This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, crude, domestic demand, exports, Mark Rachal, natural gas liquids, NGLs, propane demand, propane exports, propane inventories, propane supply and demand, Trader's Corner, weather, winter and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Chart 1: Total Propane Demand (Chart: Cost Management Solutions)

Propane demand continues at record high

February 20, 2024 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal says it may take a while to relieve some of the recent pressure on prices but thinks inventory tightness is more temporary than systemic.

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This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, crude, domestic demand, exports, Mark Rachal, natural gas liquids, NGLs, propane demand, propane exports, propane inventories, propane supply and demand, Trader's Corner, weather, winter and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Chart 1: Crude and Propane Closing Prices (Chart: Cost Management Solutions)

Back to backwardation for crude

February 12, 2024 By Mark Rachal

This week, Mark Rachal of Cost Management Solutions explains why fundamentals are not the only factors impacting commodities trading.

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This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, crude, domestic demand, Mark Rachal, Mont Belvieu, propane demand, propane inventories, propane prices, propane pricing, propane supply and demand, Trader's Corner, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), weather, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), winter and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Chart 1: Total United States Propane/Propylene Inventory 2019 Forward (Cost Management Solutions)

Propane market reaches normalization

February 5, 2024 By Mark Rachal

Despite the recent decline in inventories and the rise in prices, the propane market simply has gone from abnormally bearish to more normalized.

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This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, crude, domestic demand, Mark Rachal, Mont Belvieu, propane demand, propane inventories, propane prices, propane pricing, propane supply and demand, Trader's Corner, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), weather, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), winter and posted in Blue Flame Blog