Ethanol, Fuels and Co-Product Pricing
Market Outlook: U.S. ethanol prices ended last week 6.4 percent lower but were steady from Friday through Tuesday’s close. Midwest wholesale rack ethanol prices were lower to end last week but rose 1 percent through Tuesday’s market close to their last quote of 73.76 cents/liter (279.2 cents/gallon).
FOB Houston ethanol prices finished last week 5.8 percent lower but are unchanged through Tuesday’s trading from Friday’s close. FOB Houston ethanol prices are quoted at 68.5 cents/liter (259.32 cents/gallon). FOB Santos, Brazil anhydrous ethanol prices were lower last week; they are up in early week trading, rising 2.7 percent to 60.64 cents/liter (229.55 cents/gallon) through Tuesday’s trading.
The FOB Gulf-Santos, Brazil ethanol spread has narrowed from last week’s close through Tuesday’s trading and is currently at 7.86 cents/liter (29.77 cents/gallon).
MTBE prices fell 4.4 percent last week and continued that trend in early week trading, falling 4.7 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 10.05 cents/liter (38.03 cents/gallon).
BTX component prices were sharply lower last week and followed that trend through Tuesday’s market close: Benzene was down 5.6 percent while Toluene was down 3.9 percent, and Xylene was down 3.2 percent. The estimated weighted average aromatic price is currently 90.5 cents/liter (342.59 cents/gallon), down from last Friday’s close. The BTX-Houston ethanol spread narrowed last week, and the weighted average BTX price is 22 cents/liter (83.27 cents/gallon) higher than the FOB Houston ethanol price.
Gasoline and petroleum products were lower last week but were steady/lower in early week trade. RBOB futures are down 1.9 percent to start the week while 84 octane RBOB (Houston) and 87 octane CBOB (U.S. Gulf) gasoline prices are down 1.4 percent and unchanged, respectively. WTI futures are up $0.01/barrel at $86.88/barrel while Brent futures are down 0.1 percent to $92.89/barrel, from Friday through Tuesday’s close.
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