Ethanol, Fuels and Co-Product Pricing
Market Outlook: U.S. ethanol prices ended last week 2.7 percent higher and extended those gains in early week trading to rise 2.2 percent through Tuesday’s close. Midwest wholesale rack ethanol prices were higher to end last week and were up 2.5 percent through Tuesday’s market close to their last quote of 65.08 cents/liter (246.36 cents/gallon).
FOB Houston ethanol prices finished last week 4.2 percent higher and are up 1.7 percent through Tuesday’s trading from Friday’s close. FOB Houston ethanol prices are quoted at 64.24 cents/liter (243.17 cents/gallon). FOB Santos, Brazil anhydrous ethanol prices were lower last week; they are down in early week trading, falling 0.2 percent to 62.45 cents/liter (236.4 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 1.79 cents/liter (6.77 cents/gallon).
MTBE prices fell 0.3 percent last week but pared those losses in early week trading to gain 0.4 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 24.66 cents/liter (93.34 cents/gallon).
BTX component prices were sharply lower last week but were higher through Tuesday’s market close: Benzene was up 0.8 percent while Toluene was up 1.4 percent, and Xylene was up 1.4 percent. The estimated weighted average aromatic price is currently 97.26 cents/liter (368.17 cents/gallon), up from last Friday’s close. The BTX-Houston ethanol spread widened last week, and the weighted average BTX price is 33.02 cents/liter (125 cents/gallon) higher than the FOB Houston ethanol price.
Gasoline and petroleum products were higher last week and have continued that rally in early week trade. RBOB futures are up 4.9 percent to start the week while 84 octane RBOB (Houston) and 87 octane CBOB (U.S. Gulf) gasoline prices are up 4.2 and up 3.7 percent, respectively. WTI futures are 6.4 percent higher at $73.67/barrel while Brent futures are up 4.8 percent to $78.14/barrel, from Friday through Tuesday’s close.
