Tampa:
The second-quarter contract price of molten sulfur at Tampa was set at $481/lt CFR, up $199/lt from the first quarter’s $282/lt CFR contract.
Operable refinery capacity pressed higher for the week, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported. Total U.S. refining capacity lifted to 92.5 percent for the week ending April 1, a 0.4 point increase from 92.1 percent noted previously. The current rate remained ahead of both the year-ago 84.0 percent and the 86.6 percent five-year average.
Crude inputs were also up, the EIA noted, moving to an average 15.948 million barrels/d for the period, a 35,000 barrel/d increase from the previous week’s 15.913 million barrels/d rate.
U.S. Gulf:
Activity levels from the 95,000 barrel/d DCU-2 coking unit at Motiva’s Port Arthur, Texas, refinery returned to normal on March 31, Genscape reported. Falling levels were noted at the unit starting on March 29.
Valero on April 1 successfully restarted a 50,000 barrel/d hydrocracker and 14,000 barrel/d ULSD hydrotreater at its Houston, Texas, refinery. Both units were noted going offline on March 30.
Shell restarted a 44,000 barrel/d hydrocracker at the company’s Norco, La., facility on the evening of April 3, following a unit shutdown reported on March 29.
Restarts of a 48,000 barrel/d catalytic reformer and an 80,000 barrel/d distillate hydrotreater were observed at the Marathon Garyville, La., refinery on April 2. The units were shut March 26 and March 31, respectively.
TotalEnergies on April 6 powered down the 80,000 barrel/d ACU-2 crude section at the company’s Port Arthur facility, Genscape reported.
Following Brazil higher, sources quoted U.S. Gulf sulfur pricing in the $460-$480/mt FOB range, rising from $420-$430/mt FOB reported previously.
Brazil:
Players reported new spot trades into Brazil for the week landing in the $510-$530/mt CFR range, rising from $480-$485/mt CFR one week earlier.
Sulfur consumers in Brazil reported second-quarter contracts settling ahead of the new spot sales, with quarterly values described in the $480-$485/mt CFR range. Buyers were generally said to eschew supply contracts in the first quarter, relying instead on the spot market to meet their needs. Brazil contracts were reported at $234/mt CFR in 4Q 2021.
Vancouver:
Last-done at Vancouver continued to be noted in the $400-$410/mt FOB range. Fresh increases reported at China for the week were expected to lift Vancouver in the next round of business.
Alberta:
Albert sulfur netback indications were steady in the $330-$411/mt FOB range, unmoved from the prior report, encompassing both molten material contracted into the U.S. and prilled tons selling on the Vancouver export market.
West Coast:
West Coast prills continued to be indicated at $400-$410/mt FOB, steady from the prior report.West Coast molten sulfur contracts were quoted settling in the $375-$390/lt FOB range for the second quarter, a $145/lt increase from $230-$245/lt FOB in 1Q.
China:
Sources reported new China import pricing in the $465-$470/mt CFR range during the week. Values were previously noted at $435-$445/mt CFR.
ADNOC:
ADNOC prill offers stood at $420/mt FOB Ruwais for April loading, sources indicated, an increase of $85/mt from the March price of $335/mt FOB.
Qatar:
Prilled sulfur produced by Qatar Petroleum was reportedly posted at $430/mt FOB Ras Laffan for April, rising $97/mt from $333/mt FOB in the prior offer period.