Ethanol, Fuels and Co-Product Pricing
Market Outlook: U.S. ethanol prices ended last week 10.4 percent lower but are reversing those gains in early week trading, up 0.2 percent through Tuesday’s close. Midwest wholesale rack ethanol prices were lower to end last week and are down 1.6 percent through Tuesday’s market close to their last quote of 29.72 cents/liter (112.5 cents/gallon).
FOB Houston ethanol prices finished last week 3.8 percent lower and are down 2.6 percent through Tuesday’s trading from Friday’s close. FOB Houston ethanol prices are quoted at 24.7 cents/liter (93.5 cents/gallon). FOB Santos, Brazil anhydrous ethanol prices were lower last week; they are down in early week trading, falling 4.8 percent to 35.89 cents/liter (135.85 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 -11.19 cents/liter (42.35 cents/gallon).
MTBE prices fell 19.1 percent last week but have erased some of those losses in early week trading, up 2 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 -8.9 cents/liter (-33.67 cents/gallon).
BTX component prices were sharply lower last week and are continuing that trend through Tuesday’s market close: Benzene is down 2.1 percent while Toluene is down 1.8 percent, and Xylene is up 1.4 percent. The estimated weighted average aromatic price is currently 26.74 cents/liter (101.23 cents/gallon), up slightly from last Friday’s close. The BTX-Houston ethanol spread widened last week, and the weighted average BTX price is 2.04 cents/liter (7.73 cents/gallon) higher than the FOB Houston ethanol price.
Gasoline and petroleum products were higher last week but have reversed that trend in early week trading. RBOB futures are down 6.3 percent to start the week while 84 octane RBOB (Houston) and 87 octane CBOB (U.S. Gulf) gasoline prices are down 2.2 and 2.6 percent, respectively. WTI futures are 16.6 percent lower at $23.63/barrel while Brent futures are down 4.7 percent to $32.5/barrel, from Friday through Tuesday’s close.
Price Database: If you are interested in historical price data, please click here.