Tampa:
Fourth-quarter Tampa molten contracts were quoted at $183/lt, a $12/lt decline from $195/lt CFR reported in the third quarter.
Operable refining capacity ticked higher in the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) most recent report. Combined nationwide utilization was reported at 86.7 percent of capacity for the week ending Nov. 5, a 0.4-point increase from the prior week’s 86.3 percent rate and leading both the year-ago 74.5 percent and the 85.7 percent five-year average.
Daily crude inputs lifted to an average 15.366 million barrels/d, a 343,000 barrel/d jump from 15.023 million barrels/d published previously.
U.S. Imports:
September sulfur imports were off 29.0 percent, to 201,935 st from 284,524 st in the prior year. Imports were off 22.8 percent for July-September, falling to 774,709 st from the year-ago 1.00 million st.
U.S. Exports:
Sulfur exports soared 186.8 percent in September, to 178,430 st from the year-ago 62,218 st. July-September exports softened 13.3 percent, however, to 299,544 st from the year-ago 345,636 st.
U.S. Gulf:
Phillips 66 on Nov. 8 announced plans to convert its storm-damaged Alliance, La., refinery into a terminal facility. The 255,000 barrel/d plant has remained offline since Aug. 28 and suffered heavy flood damage from Hurricane Ida. The conversion is projected to take place in 2022, Reuters reported, with approximately 425 of the plant’s 900 employees expected to lose jobs.
Genscape reported a Nov. 4 restart of the 283,000 barrel/d crude distillation unit (CDU) at Marathon’s Garyville, La., refinery. The unit was shut earlier in the same day following a bout of excess flaring.
ExxonMobil Corp. on Nov. 4 successfully restarted the 225,000 barrel/d Pipestill 10 crude section at the company’s refinery in Baton Rouge, La. The unit went offline on Nov. 1.
Gulf export ideas firmed to at least $200-$210/mt FOB, rising from $190-$200/mt FOB at last report. Ongoing logistics complications were noted potentially keeping the market from its full potential, which was indicated up to the $240s/mt FOB based on recent international increases.
Brazil:
The Brazil spot import sulfur price moved to the $285-$290/mt CFR range for the week, in line with expectations at the $285/mt CFR mark in the prior report. Import contracts for the fourth quarter were pegged at $234/mt CFR, rising from $221-$223/mt CFR in the prior period.
Vancouver:
Recent Vancouver levels continued to be heard at $200-$205/mt FOB, unmoved from one week earlier. Firming international markets were expected to drive Vancouver higher in the next round of business, sources said.
Alberta:
Alberta netbacks were indicated in the $68-$135/mt FOB range. The wide spread included both molten tons contracted into the U.S. and prilled material selling internationally by way of the Vancouver export market.
West Coast:
West Coast prills continued to mirror Vancouver at $200-$205/mt FOB.Molten sulfur contracts on tons loading from West Coast locations were reported in the $160-$170/lt FOB range for the fourth quarter.
China:
Spot imports to China were reported at $260-$263/mt CFR during the week, increasing from $255-$260/mt CFR in the prior report.
ADNOC:
Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC) prills were quoted at $230/mt FOB Ruwais for November, rising $37/mt from $193/mt FOB in the previous month.
Qatar:
November offers from Qatar Petroleum were noted at $226/mt FOB Ras Laffan, a $34/mt increase from $192/mt FOB reported one month earlier.
Kuwait:
Sources put the Kuwait sulfur price at $226/mt FOB for November. October pricing was heard at $191/mt FOB, a $35/mt difference.