Chart 1: U.S. weekly crude production estimate

Crude production declines; prices surge

April 6, 2026 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal continues his analysis of the U.S.-Iran war’s impacts on crude, focusing on crude production.

This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, crude, crude production, Mark Rachal, Trader's Corner and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Chart 2: U.S. strategic petroleum reserve inventory

US crude position in the second month of the US-Iran war

March 30, 2026 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal looks at U.S. crude prices and inventories as the conflict between the United States and Iran continues.

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

Chart 1: Brent crude price premium to WTI crude

Overseas markets lift US propane prices

March 23, 2026 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal compares U.S. and overseas crude benchmarks and their impacts on propane prices.

This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, crude, Mark Rachal, propane prices, Trader's Corner, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), WTI and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Chart 1: Belvieu propane percentage of crude

Closing of Strait of Hormuz impacts energy exports

March 16, 2026 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal explains the threat Iran poses to energy shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, exports, liquefied natural gas (LNG), Mark Rachal, Trader's Corner and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Strait of Hormuz. (Image: Eva Sanabria/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images)

Impacts of US-Iran conflict on propane market

March 9, 2026 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal explains how the current conflict between the United States and Iran is impacting the global propane market.

This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, Donald Trump, Mark Rachal, propane supply, Trader's Corner, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Chart 1: Crude weekly commercial inventories

Making sense of volatile crude inventories

March 2, 2026 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal parses through the first quarter of U.S. crude inventories data.

This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, crude inventory, crude oil, crude production, gasoline, Mark Rachal, Trader's Corner and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Impacts of Winter Storm Fern on propane market fading

February 23, 2026 By Mark Rachal

This week, Mark Rachal shares how propane supply and demand are normalizing after the effects of Winter Storm Fern.

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

Steady propane prices for 2025-26 winter

February 17, 2026 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal explains why propane prices have been steady this winter.

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

Chart 1: Total U.S. propane/propylene inventory

Propane inventories decline more than average

February 9, 2026 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal examines the recent greater-than-average decline in propane inventories.

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

Chart 1: Daily prices natural gas – 2025-2026 (Chart courtesy of Cost Management Solutions)

Propane rejection and its causes

February 3, 2026 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal, director of research and publications at Cost Management Solutions, explains the concept of propane rejection.

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

TAG: Mark Rachal