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

Chart 1: Week to Week Propane Inventory Changes

Propane inventory posts largest draw on record

January 29, 2024 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal, director of research and publications at Cost Management Solutions, evaluates the largest propane inventory draw on record.

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

Chart 1: Cost Management Solutions

Closing propane forward positions

January 22, 2024 By Mark Rachal

This week, Mark Rachal, director of research and publications, discusses the process of closing propane forward positions.

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

Chart 3: 8-14 Day Temperature Outlook (Chart: EIA)

Propane market reacts as feared

January 16, 2024 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal, director of research and publications at Cost Management Solutions, discusses rising crude and propane prices.

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

Chart 4: Temperature Outlook for Jan. 11-15, 2024 (Chart: EIA)

Propane inventory adjustment could spike prices

January 8, 2024 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal of Cost Management Solutions discusses the current state of U.S. propane inventory and the expected impact on pricing this winter.

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

Managing supply price risk in the second half of winter

January 2, 2024 By Mark Rachal

This week, Mark Rachal, director of research and publications, analyzes the risk of higher prices in the second half of winter.

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This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, customer retention, domestic demand, Mark Rachal, propane demand, propane prices, propane supply and demand, Trader's Corner, weather, winter and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Top 10: The best of Trader’s Corner 2023

December 26, 2023 By Brian Richesson

This year’s Trader’s Corner reports featured records, refreshers and other market insights from Mark Rachal of Cost Management Solutions.

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This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, customer retention, domestic demand, heating oil, heating season, Mark Rachal, propane demand, propane suppliers, propane supply and demand, Trader's Corner, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), weather, winter and posted in Blue Flame Blog