Posts by Mark Rachal

Global crude markets continue to adjust to OPEC’s new role in production Posted on 04 Jan 2016 in the Blue Flame Blog categories.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude is the U.S. benchmark crude. Brent crude has become the benchmark crude for much of the world. In 2012, Brent crude was trading at $25.53... Read more»

How Canadian propane inventory affects the US Posted on 28 Dec 2015 in the Blue Flame Blog categories.

As the core winter season approaches, propane inventory levels in Canada are slightly below average. The Canadian inventory position is in stark contrast to the record-high levels of propane inventory... Read more»

How weather affects propane values Posted on 21 Dec 2015 in the Blue Flame Blog categories.

Propane inventory has fallen 7.227 million barrels over the last three weeks. That compares to a five-year average decline of 4.402 million barrels for the same three-week period. The well-above-average... Read more»

Big draws on Gulf Coast propane inventory Posted on 14 Dec 2015 in the Blue Flame Blog categories.

In last week’s Trader’s Corner, we looked at the propane inventory information released in the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Weekly Petroleum Status Report. As we pointed out, domestic demand for... Read more»

Making sense of propane inventory swings Posted on 07 Dec 2015 in the Blue Flame Blog categories.

The Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Weekly Petroleum Status Report tracks the rise and fall of U.S. propane inventory. Propane retailers probably watch inventory levels closer than any other data point... Read more»

Why propane traders should practice patience Posted on 30 Nov 2015 in the Blue Flame Blog categories.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) will meet Dec. 4 to discuss its strategies for supporting crude prices. Crude markets will likely experience volatility ahead of that meeting as... Read more»

What high crude inventory means for propane prices Posted on 23 Nov 2015 in the Blue Flame Blog categories.

The Energy Information Administration’s Weekly Petroleum Status Report for the week ending Nov. 13 reported U.S. crude inventory, excluding the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, at 487.286 million barrels. The high for... Read more»

Weak fall demand spurs additional inventory build Posted on 16 Nov 2015 in the Blue Flame Blog categories.

The Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Weekly Petroleum Status Report for the week ending Nov. 6 reported a 1.563-million-barrel increase in U.S. propane inventory, raising it to a record high of... Read more»

Propane inventory sets second record in three weeks Posted on 09 Nov 2015 in the Blue Flame Blog categories.

The Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Weekly Petroleum Status Report for the week ending Oct. 30 shocked traders with reports of an 848,000-barrel increase in U.S. propane inventory. Propane inventory had... Read more»

More propane production from refineries ahead Posted on 02 Nov 2015 in the Blue Flame Blog categories.

U.S. refiners are beginning to come out of seasonal maintenance work, which could mean more propane supply for an already oversupplied market. As we mentioned last week in our discussion... Read more»