Ethanol Market and Pricing Data – August 5, 2020

Ethanol, Fuels and Co-Product Pricing

Market Outlook: U.S. ethanol prices ended last week 1.7 percent higher but are reversing that trend in early week trading, down 1.7 percent through Tuesday’s close. Midwest wholesale rack ethanol prices were lower to end last week and are down 1.4 percent through Tuesday’s market close to their last quote of 37.26 cents/liter (141.05 cents/gallon).

FOB Houston ethanol prices finished last week 1.3 percent higher but are down 5.1 percent through Tuesday’s trading from Friday’s close. FOB Houston ethanol prices are quoted at 33.69 cents/liter (127.51 cents/gallon). FOB Santos, Brazil anhydrous ethanol prices were higher last week; they are down in early week trading, falling 0.9 percent to 40.05 cents/liter (151.62 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 -6.37 cents/liter (-24.11 cents/gallon).

MTBE prices rose 1.6 percent last week but have erased those losses in early week trading, down 3.1 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 -3.52 cents/liter (-13.33 cents/gallon).

BTX component prices were mixed last week and are continuing that trend through Tuesday’s market close: Benzene is up 3.5 percent while Toluene is down 3.6 percent, and Xylene is down 3.8 percent. The estimated weighted average aromatic price is currently 37.58 cents/liter (142.24 cents/gallon), down from last Friday’s close. The BTX-Houston ethanol spread widened last week, and the weighted average BTX price is 3.89 cents/liter (14.73 cents/gallon) higher than the FOB Houston ethanol price.

Gasoline and petroleum products were mostly lower last week but are reversing that trend in early week trading. RBOB futures are up 3.7 percent to start the week while 84 octane RBOB (Houston) and 87 octane CBOB (U.S. Gulf) gasoline prices are up 3.1 and up 4.2 percent, respectively. WTI futures are 3.6 percent higher at $41.70/barrel while Brent futures are up 1.9 percent to $44.36/barrel, from Friday through Tuesday’s close.

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