Ethanol, Fuels and Co-Product Pricing
Market Outlook: U.S. ethanol prices ended last week 0.1 percent higher but are reversing that trend in early week trading, down 6.6 percent through Tuesday’s close. Midwest wholesale rack ethanol prices were higher to end last week but are down 0.7 percent through Tuesday’s market close to their last quote of 43.96 cents/liter (166.39 cents/gallon).
FOB Houston ethanol prices finished last week 12.4 percent higher but are down 1.1 percent through Tuesday’s trading from Friday’s close. FOB Houston ethanol prices are quoted at 41.18 cents/liter (155.88 cents/gallon). FOB Santos, Brazil anhydrous ethanol prices were higher last week; they are up in early week trading, rising 0.1 percent to 37.71 cents/liter (142.75 cents/gallon) through Tuesday’s trading.
The FOB Gulf-Santos, Brazil ethanol spread has narrowed from last week’s close through Tuesday’s trading and is currently at 3.47 cents/liter (13.13 cents/gallon).
MTBE prices fell 3.6 percent last week and have extended those losses in early week trading, down 0.1 percent from Friday’s close through Tuesday’s trading. MTBE’s premium to FOB Houston ethanol has decreased from last week’s report and stands at -9.81 cents/liter (-37.12 cents/gallon).
BTX component prices were sharply higher last week but are mixed through Tuesday’s market close: Benzene is down 0.1 percent while Toluene is up 1.3 percent, and Xylene is up 0.4 percent. The estimated weighted average aromatic price is currently 40.75 cents/liter (154.27 cents/gallon), up from last Friday’s close. The BTX-Houston ethanol spread widened last week, and the weighted average BTX price is -0.42 cents/liter (-1.6 cents/gallon) lower than the FOB Houston ethanol price.
Gasoline and petroleum products were mostly lower last week and are continuing that trend in early week trading. RBOB futures are down 2.8 percent to start the week while 84 octane RBOB (Houston) and 87 octane CBOB (U.S. Gulf) gasoline prices are down 3.6 and 0.9 percent, respectively. WTI futures are 0.6 percent lower at $40.29/barrel while Brent futures are down 0.3 percent to $43.11/barrel, from Friday through Tuesday’s close.
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