Ethanol, Fuels and Co-Product Pricing
Market Outlook: U.S. ethanol prices ended last week 1.5 percent lower and pushed lower again in early week trading to fall 0.4 percent through Tuesday’s close. Midwest wholesale rack ethanol prices were higher to end last week and were up 1.5 percent through Tuesday’s market close to their last quote of 75.88 cents/liter (287.25 cents/gallon).
FOB Houston ethanol prices finished last week 1.7 percent higher but are down 0.3 percent through Tuesday’s trading from Friday’s close. FOB Houston ethanol prices are quoted at 72.5 cents/liter (274.44 cents/gallon). FOB Santos, Brazil anhydrous ethanol prices were lower last week; they are down in early week trading, falling 3.4 percent to 60.39 cents/liter (228.61 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 12.11 cents/liter (45.83 cents/gallon).
MTBE prices fell 5.3 percent last week and continued that trend in early week trading, falling 2.3 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 11.74 cents/liter (44.46 cents/gallon).
BTX component prices were sharply lower last week and followed that trend through Tuesday’s market close: Benzene was down 9 percent while Toluene was down 1.9 percent, and Xylene was up 0.1 percent. The estimated weighted average aromatic price is currently 95.34 cents/liter (360.89 cents/gallon), down from last Friday’s close. The BTX-Houston ethanol spread narrowed last week, and the weighted average BTX price is 22.84 cents/liter (86.45 cents/gallon) higher than the FOB Houston ethanol price.
Gasoline and petroleum products were mostly lower last week but are lower in early week trade. RBOB futures are down 5.5 percent to start the week while 84 octane RBOB (Houston) and 87 octane CBOB (U.S. Gulf) gasoline prices are down 5.9 and up 1.7 percent, respectively. WTI futures are 1.5 percent lower at $91.64/barrel while Brent futures are down 0.5 percent to $98.47/barrel, from Friday through Tuesday’s close.
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