Tampa:
Genscape on Oct. 5 reported multiple unit restarts at the PBF Energy refinery in Toledo, Ohio, including a sulfur recovery unit (SRU), a 94,000 barrel/d crude distillation unit (CDU), and a 30,000 barrel/d catalytic reformer. Operational ramp-ups of an 82,000 barrel/d fluidic catalytic cracking unit (FCC) and a 52,000 barrel/d hydrocracker were ongoing. The facility was noted experiencing a plant-wide shutdown on Oct. 2.
Fourth-quarter Tampa molten contracts were pegged at $183/lt CFR, a $12/lt decline from $195/lt CFR in the third quarter.
Refining capacity in the U.S. increased for the week, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Refiners operated at a combined 89.6 percent capacity for the week ending Oct. 1, a 1.5-point increase from the prior week’s 88.1 percent, and also leading both the year-ago 77.1 percent and the 85.9 percent five-year average.
Daily crude inputs also moved up, the EIA noted, lifting to an average 15.744 million barrels/d, a 329,000 barrel/d increase from 15.415 million barrels/d at last report.
U.S. Imports:
Sulfur imports were up 25.6 percent for the July-August period, to 719,419 st versus the year-ago 572,774 st. Import totals were up 16.0 percent in August, to 259,322 st from 223,577 st in August 2020.
U.S. Exports:
August sulfur exports fell 61.1 percent year-over-year, to 68,402 st from 175,732 st. July-August volumes dropped 57.3 percent, to 121,114 st from 283,418 st noted one year earlier.
U.S. Gulf:
Phillips 66 has signaled an intent to repair and restart operations at its hurricane-damaged Alliance, La., refinery, Reuters reported. The 255,000 barrel/d facility was among those hardest hit by Hurricane Ida, suffering widespread flooding throughout the facility following a break in the refinery’s floodwall.
The company was reportedly considering a permanent shutdown of the facility due to the enormous cost of repairs. Reduced availability of electricity has hindered the cleanup so far, slowing efforts to pump out water from flooded areas. In total, repairs have been estimated to require up to seven months.
An oil leak reported at the Marathon refinery in Galveston Bay, Texas, on Oct. 6 was expected to be fully controlled by 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 7, Bloomberg reported. A failed valve flange was noted releasing crude oil into a containment dike starting around 7:30 a.m. on Oct. 6. An estimated 5,000 pounds of material were expected to discharge in the incident.
Genscape reported the successful restart of a 174,000 barrel/d CDU and an 85,000 barrel/d vacuum distillation unit (VDU) at the Citgo refinery in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Sept. 30. The units were noted going offline on Sept. 29 following a round of heavy flaring.
Price ideas in the Gulf export market continued to be heard in the $190-$200/mt FOB range, steady from the prior report.
Brazil:
Last-done Brazil spot prill imports were noted at $244-$246/mt CFR for the week, unmoved from the prior report. Sources reported fourth-quarter contracts at $234/mt CFR, up from $221-$223/mt CFR reported for the prior quarter.
Vancouver:
Market players reported recent Vancouver values in the $180-$192/mt FOB range, unmoved from one week earlier.
Alberta:
Alberta sulfur netbacks remained in the $68-$122/mt FOB range for the week.
West Coast:
Price ideas on West Coast prills continued at $180-$192/mt FOB, unchanged from week-ago levels.Molten sulfur contracts stood at a reported $160-$170/lt FOB for the fourth quarter, rising from $150-$155/lt FOB in the prior period.
China:
With the China markets effectively shut on Oct. 1-7 due to the country’s national Golden Week holiday, spot sulfur values continued at the week-ago $230-$240/mt CFR level, sources said.
ADNOC:
Solid sulfur loading from the UAE was noted firming to $193/mt FOB Ruwais in October, a $13/mt increase from $180/mt FOB in September.
Qatar:
Muntajat prills were posted at $192/mt FOB Ras Laffan for loading in October. Pricing was noted at $178/mt FOB in September, a $14/mt difference.