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

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

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

Gas House horizontal tanks in rows. Photo by LP Gas staff

It’s actually good when price protection doesn’t pay off

March 11, 2025 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal, director of research and publications, shares a lesson about price protection he learned from “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”

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

Photo: freezeframes/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

Correcting a common misconception about propane supply

February 25, 2025 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal explains and corrects a common misconception about propane supply and how propane is produced.

This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, crude, crude production, hydrocarbon gas liquids, Mark Rachal, natural gas, natural gas processing, propane supply, propane traders, Trader's Corner and posted in Blue Flame Blog, Featured

January cold impacts US propane supply

February 3, 2025 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal examines the January cold’s impact on U.S. propane supply and argues that confidence in propane supply remains high.

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

Propane speculation for retailers

January 27, 2025 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal explains how propane retailers can take long and short positions on propane.

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

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.

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

A look back at 2024 propane pricing

January 13, 2025 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal looks back at propane prices in 2024 to get a baseline for decisions on 2025-26 price protection.

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

Can the propane industry handle this winter storm?

January 6, 2025 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal, director of research and publications, examines how the latest winter storm and falling temperatures could impact propane prices.

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

Sorting out Midwest propane inventory confusion

December 9, 2024 By Mark Rachal

This week, Mark Rachal, director of research and publications, parses out a discrepancy in Midwest propane inventory.

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

TAG: propane traders