Ethanol Market and Pricing Data – December 15, 2021

Ethanol, Fuels and Co-Product Pricing

Market Outlook: U.S. ethanol prices ended last week 4.3 percent higher but are reversing that trend in early week trading, down 2.8 percent through Tuesday’s close. Midwest wholesale rack ethanol prices were lower to end last week and are down 0.4 percent through Tuesday’s market close to their last quote of 86.89 cents/liter (328.91 cents/gallon).

FOB Houston ethanol prices finished last week 9.8 percent lower but are up 1 percent through Tuesday’s trading from Friday’s close. FOB Houston ethanol prices are quoted at 80.65 cents/liter (305.29 cents/gallon). FOB Santos, Brazil anhydrous ethanol prices were lower last week; they are down in early week trading, falling 1.4 percent to 71.78 cents/liter (271.715 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 8.87 cents/liter (33.57 cents/gallon).

MTBE prices fell 1.7 percent last week but are rallying in early week trading, up 3.2 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 -13.84 cents/liter (-52.4 cents/gallon).

BTX component prices were mixed last week but are stronger through Tuesday’s market close: Benzene is up 3.4 percent while Toluene is up 1.4 percent, and Xylene is up 4.4 percent. The estimated weighted average aromatic price is currently 72.26 cents/liter (273.54 cents/gallon), up from last Friday’s close. The BTX-Houston ethanol spread widened last week, and the weighted average BTX price is -8.39 cents/liter (-31.75 cents/gallon) lower than the FOB Houston ethanol price.

Gasoline and petroleum products were higher last week but are pulling back from those gains in early week trade. RBOB futures are down 1.2 percent to start the week while 84 octane RBOB (Houston) and 87 octane CBOB (U.S. Gulf) gasoline prices are down 1.9 and 1.4 percent, respectively. WTI futures are 1.3 percent lower at $70.73/barrel while Brent futures are down 2.6 percent to $73.2/barrel, from Friday through Tuesday’s close.

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