Ethanol, Fuels and Co-Product Pricing
Market Outlook: U.S. ethanol prices ended last week 2.8 percent lower and continued that trend in early week trading to fall 1.6 percent through Tuesday’s close. Midwest wholesale rack ethanol prices were higher to end last week but were down 2.6 percent through Tuesday’s market close to their last quote of 71.03 cents/liter (268.86 cents/gallon).
FOB Houston ethanol prices finished last week 3.9 percent higher but are down 4.5 percent through Tuesday’s trading from Friday’s close. FOB Houston ethanol prices are quoted at 66.32 cents/liter (251.06 cents/gallon). FOB Santos, Brazil anhydrous ethanol prices were higher last week; they are up in early week trading, rising 0.3 percent to 61.6 cents/liter (233.175 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 4.72 cents/liter (17.88 cents/gallon).
MTBE prices fell 1.1 percent last week and continued that trend in early week trading, falling 2 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 8.69 cents/liter (32.89 cents/gallon).
BTX component prices were sharply lower last week and were weaker still through Tuesday’s market close: Benzene was down 1.3 percent while Toluene was up 0.4 percent, and Xylene was up 2.1 percent. The estimated weighted average aromatic price is currently 89.99 cents/liter (340.65 cents/gallon), up from last Friday’s close. The BTX-Houston ethanol spread widened last week, and the weighted average BTX price is 23.67 cents/liter (89.6 cents/gallon) higher than the FOB Houston ethanol price.
Gasoline and petroleum products were mostly lower last week but rebounded in early week trade. RBOB futures are up 1.2 percent to start the week while 84 octane RBOB (Houston) and 87 octane CBOB (U.S. Gulf) gasoline prices are up 2.1 and up 2 percent, respectively. WTI futures are 1 percent lower at $84.24/barrel while Brent futures are down 0.5 percent to $90.87/barrel, from Friday through Tuesday’s close.
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