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

Chart 2: Midwest Propane Inventory

Calling on winter propane demand

December 18, 2023 By Mark Rachal

This week, Mark Rachal, director of research and publications at Cost Management Solutions, analyzes propane demand and the current weather forecast for this winter.

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

Chart 1: Crude Weekly Commercial Inventories 2018 Forward

What lower crude demand in the US means for propane retailers

December 4, 2023 By Mark Rachal

Trader’s Corner, a weekly partnership with Cost Management Solutions, analyzes propane supply and pricing trends. This week, Mark Rachal,…

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This article is tagged with Cost Management Solutions, exports, inventory, Mark Rachal, Mont Belvieu, pipeline, propane demand, propane exports, propane fundamentals, propane inventories, propane inventory, propane price, propane prices, Trader's Corner, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), winter, WTI and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Photo by LP Gas staff

Solving the mystery of propane forwards

November 27, 2023 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal, director of research and publications for Cost Management Solutions, describes how propane forwards function.

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

Photo: tttuna/E+/Getty Images

EIA to provide new propane data point

November 20, 2023 By Mark Rachal

The Energy Information Administration will provide a new data point in its Weekly Petroleum Status Report that will benefit those in the propane industry.

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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 (Chart: Cost Management Solutions)

Weaker crude puts propane into counter-seasonal pricing trend

November 13, 2023 By Mark Rachal

Cost Management Solutions encourages caution about the second half of this winter given the high inventory positions and concerns for propane demand.

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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: US Propane/Propylene Production 2018 Forward (Chart: Cost Management Solutions)

Propane exports key to winter pricing

November 6, 2023 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal, director of research and publications for Cost Management Solutions, examines various scenarios for propane exports that could happen this winter.

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This article is tagged with China, Cost Management Solutions, domestic demand, exports, inventory, Mark Rachal, Mont Belvieu, propane dehydrogenation (PDH), propane demand, propane exports, propane fundamentals, propane inventories, propane inventory, propane prices, Trader's Corner, winter and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Chart 1: Cushing Weekly Inventories, 2018-2023

Cushing trading hub for crude becomes central focus

October 2, 2023 By Mark Rachal

Crude inventories are reaching seriously low levels in Cushing, Oklahoma, a major trading hub for the U.S. Read more about the impacts on the market.

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This article is tagged with Conway, Cost Management Solutions, crude, crude inventory, crude prices, crude production, Mark Rachal, Mont Belvieu, Oklahoma, propane demand, Trader's Corner and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Chart 3: US Propane/Propylene Demand 2018 Forward

Propane prices turn lower

September 25, 2023 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal, director of research and publications with Cost Management Solutions, gives an overview of propane prices headed into winter.

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This article is tagged with Conway, Cost Management Solutions, crude, crude prices, crude production, domestic demand, El Niño, Mark Rachal, Mont Belvieu, Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), propane demand, propane prices, Trader's Corner, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) and posted in Blue Flame Blog