Ethanol Market and Pricing Data – December 22, 2021

Ethanol, Fuels and Co-Product Pricing

Market Outlook: U.S. ethanol prices ended last week 6 percent lower and are continued that trend in early week trading, down 2.7 percent through Tuesday’s close. Midwest wholesale rack ethanol prices were lower to end last week but are up 0.8 percent through Tuesday’s market close to their last quote of 80.77 cents/liter (305.74 cents/gallon).

FOB Houston ethanol prices finished last week 3.5 percent lower but have fully reversed those losses in early week trading, rising 3.5 percent through Tuesday’s trading from Friday’s close. FOB Houston ethanol prices are quoted at 79.68 cents/liter (301.61 cents/gallon). FOB Santos, Brazil anhydrous ethanol prices were lower last week; they are down in early week trading, falling 0.8 percent to 71.01 cents/liter (268.8 cents/gallon) through Tuesday’s trading.

The FOB Gulf-Santos, Brazil ethanol spread has widened from last week’s close through Tuesday’s trading and is currently at 8.67 cents/liter (32.81 cents/gallon).

MTBE prices rose 2.7 percent last week but are giving back some of those gains in early week trading, down 1.7 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 -14.32 cents/liter (-54.2 cents/gallon).

BTX component prices were higher last week but are mixed through Tuesday’s market close: Benzene is up 0.4 percent while Toluene is steady, and Xylene is down 3.2 percent. The estimated weighted average aromatic price is currently 70.57 cents/liter (267.14 cents/gallon), down from last Friday’s close. The BTX-Houston ethanol spread narrowed last week, and the weighted average BTX price is -9.11 cents/liter (-34.47 cents/gallon) lower than the FOB Houston ethanol price.

Gasoline and petroleum products were lower last week but are moving higher in early week trade. RBOB futures are up 1.1 percent to start the week while 84 octane RBOB (Houston) and 87 octane CBOB (U.S. Gulf) gasoline prices are up 2.2 and up 2.2 percent, respectively. WTI futures are 0.7 percent higher at $71.21/barrel while Brent futures are up 0.5 percent to $73.91/barrel, from Friday through Tuesday’s close.

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