Ethanol, Fuels and Co-Product Pricing
Market Outlook: U.S. ethanol prices are higher this week, following last week’s strength. Nearby CBOT ethanol futures are up 1.3 percent from Friday (when they finished the week up 1.9 percent) while Midwest wholesale rack ethanol prices are steady (up just 0.1 percent from Friday) at 41.14 cents/liter (155.72 cents/gallon).
FOB Houston ethanol prices finished last week 0.8 percent lower but have stabilized and are now up 0.1 percent from Friday’s close. The latest quotes put FOB Houston values at 41.698 cents/liter (157.844 cents/gallon).
FOB Santos, Brazil ethanol prices ended last week 0.3 percent higher while this week’s prices have gained another 0.2 percent. FOB Santos ethanol prices are currently 61.346 cents/liter, or 232.22 cents/gallon.
The FOB Houston-Santos spread widened 2.6 percent last week to -19.540 cents/liter (-73.97 cents/gallon), ending a five-week narrowing of the spread. Early week trading shows the spread widening 0.6 percent to -19.648 cents/liter (-74.376 cents/gallon).
MTBE prices found support early last week, but this eroded by week’s end and left prices 1 percent lower. So far this week, MTBE prices are 1.2 percent lower at 56.69 cents/liter (214.60 cents/gallon) in a continuation of last week’s selling pressure. Gulf MTBE prices are now 14.99 cents/liter (56.76 cents/gallon) higher than FOB Houston ethanol.
BTX component prices are steady/mixed to start the week, with benzene prices up 0.1 percent, toluene down 0.6 percent, and xylene up 0.5 percent. The estimated weighted average aromatic price is currently 71.68 cents/liter (271.34/gallon), up 0.1 percent from last week. The weighted average BTX price is 29.983 cents/liter (113.50 cents/gallon) higher than FOB Houston ethanol prices.
Gasoline and petroleum products are lower to start this week. RBOB futures are down 1.2 percent (0.63 cents/liter or 2.41 cents/gallon) while 84 octane RBOB and 87 octane CBOB are 0.6 and 1.1 percent lower, respectively. WTI crude oil futures are down $1.51/barrel from last week while Brent futures have lost $1.08/barrel.
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