Ethanol, Fuels and Co-Product Pricing
Market Outlook: U.S. ethanol prices ended last week 1.7 percent higher but have offset those gains in early week trading, falling 3.8 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 67.52 cents/liter (255.58 cents/gallon).
FOB Houston ethanol prices finished last week largely unchanged but are down 0.9 percent through Tuesday’s trading from Friday’s close. FOB Houston ethanol prices are quoted at 63.15 cents/liter (239.06 cents/gallon). FOB Santos, Brazil anhydrous ethanol prices were lower last week; they are down in early week trading, falling 2.5 percent to 68.18 cents/liter (258.09 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 -5.03 cents/liter (-19.03 cents/gallon).
MTBE prices rose 2.9 percent last week and are continuing that trend in early week trading, up 1.5 percent from Friday’s close through Tuesday’s trading. MTBE’s premium to FOB Houston ethanol has increased from last week’s report and stands at -3.03 cents/liter (-11.46 cents/gallon).
BTX component prices were higher last week and are extending those gains through Tuesday’s market close: Benzene is up 9.3 percent while Toluene is up 1.7 percent, and Xylene is up 1.4 percent. The estimated weighted average aromatic price is currently 71.05 cents/liter (268.96 cents/gallon), up from last Friday’s close. The BTX-Houston ethanol spread widened last week, and the weighted average BTX price is 7.9 cents/liter (29.89 cents/gallon) higher than the FOB Houston ethanol price.
Gasoline and petroleum products were higher last week but are lower in early week trading. RBOB futures are down 1.8 percent to start the week while 84 octane RBOB (Houston) and 87 octane CBOB (U.S. Gulf) gasoline prices are down 2.9 and 2.7 percent, respectively. WTI futures are 0.7 percent lower at $74.65/barrel while Brent futures are down 0.5 percent to $75.79/barrel, from Friday through Tuesday’s close.
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