Ethanol Market and Pricing Data – October 16, 2018

Ethanol, Fuels and Co-Product Pricing

Market Outlook: U.S. ethanol prices were up slightly to end last week but have dropped through Tuesday’s trading with nearby CBOT ethanol futures down 2.5 percent from Friday’s close. Midwest wholesale rack ethanol prices were up fractionally to end last week; they are mostly unchanged this week with prices at 37.15 cents/liter (140.61 cents/gallon) through Tuesday’s trading (-0.1 percent from Friday’s close).

FOB Houston ethanol prices finished last week up 1.0 percent, but prices are down slightly through Tuesday’s trading (-0.5 percent from Friday’s close). FOB Houston ethanol prices are quoted at 36.900 cents/liter (139.681 cents/gallon). FOB Santos, Brazil ethanol prices ended last week down 2.0 percent; prices are up from Friday’s close and stand at 54.754 cents/liter (207.265 cents/gallon) through Tuesday’s trading.

The FOB Gulf-Santos, Brazil spread widened again from last week’s close through Tuesday’s trading and is currently at -17.854 cents/liter (-67.584 cents/gallon).

MTBE prices were down 0.4 percent to end last week and continue down through early week trading (-4.4 percent). MTBE’s premium to FOB Houston ethanol stood at 25.526 cents/liter ($96.63 cents/gallons), narrowing from last week’s figure.

BTX component prices were down to end last week and continue down through Tuesday’s trading, with Benzene prices down 1.6 percent and Toluene and Xylene prices down 0.7 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively. The estimated weighted average aromatic price is currently 78.45 cents/liter (296.96 cents/gallon), down slightly from Friday’s close. The BTX-Houston ethanol spread narrowed slightly, with the weighted average BTX price now 41.547 cents/liter (157.27 cents/gallon) higher than FOB Houston ethanol prices.

Gasoline and petroleum products are mixed in early week trading. Gasoline prices are up, WTI futures are down slightly and Brent crude oil futures are up slightly from Friday’s close through Tuesday’s trading.

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