Table 2: Hedge Plan Sept.-April 2024-2025 (Chart: Cost Management Solutions)

Looking forward to next winter and beyond

April 15, 2024 By Mark Rachal

In preparation for next winter, Mark Rachal focuses on the buying plan for a propane retailer that will be executed over the next couple of months.

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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, weather, winter and posted in Blue Flame Blog

Chart 1: Natural Gas Inventories (2018 Forward)

Natural gas production slowing

April 8, 2024 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal, director of research and publications with Cost Management Solutions, examines why natural gas production is slowing and how it will impact propane.

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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: Total United States Propane/Propylene Inventory

Propane production recovers to near-record levels

April 1, 2024 By Mark Rachal

As production has increased over the past few weeks, so have propane inventories.

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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 1: Closing Propane Prices Chart: Cost Management Solutions

What in the world? The influence of US propane exports

March 25, 2024 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal, director of research and publications for Cost Management Solutions, delves into the impact of propane exports on the recent price increases.

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

Table: Propane Ready for Sale

Breaking down the new propane inventory number

March 18, 2024 By Mark Rachal

Mark Rachal, director of research and publications, explains how the Energy Information Administration’s new data point will benefit propane industry members.

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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 3: Mont Belvieu Close vs 10 & 40 Day Moving Averages (Chart: Cost Management Solutions)

Is there an opportunity in the propane market?

March 11, 2024 By Mark Rachal

Propane prices have been declining since the middle of February. The market feels bearish – and with good reason.

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This article is tagged with financial hedging, home heating, petrochemicals, propane dehydrogenation (PDH), propane demand, propane exports, propane market, propane prices, propane production, propane supply, Trader's Corner, 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