Tampa:
Negotiations for the fourth-quarter contract price of molten sulfur delivered to Tampa resumed during the week following a pause reported seven days earlier in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.
Prior to the storm, sources speculated on updated contract values landing in the $90-$105/lt CFR range, below the third-quarter’s $352/lt CFR deal. Some quoted updated contract expectations in the $90-$93/lt CFR range on Oct. 6. Players reported a strong chance of talks wrapping before the weekend, although no updated contracts were reported on Oct. 6.
Refinery operations in the US increased for the week ending Sept. 30, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Refiners were noted running at a combined 91.3% of capacity for the period, a 0.7-point increase from the last reported 90.6% rate, and also topping both the year-ago 89.6% and the 87.0% five-year average.
Crude inputs also moved up, the EIA reported, to an average 15.961 million barrels/d, a 210,000 barrel/d increase from the previous week’s 15.751 million barrels/d rate.
US Gulf:
Price ideas for the US Gulf sulfur market continued to be heard in the $90-$110/mt FOB range, unchanged from the prior report.
Brazil:
Brazil spot pricing was seen moving higher in recent trading. Spot trades were reported in the $138-$158/mt CFR range, rising from $120-$140/mt CFR in the prior report.
Fourth-quarter contracts were said to conclude in a wide $119-$138/mt CFR range. Buyers were described foregoing purchase contracts in the third quarter due to market instability.
Vancouver:
Recent Vancouver values continued to hold in the $95-$100/mt FOB range, unmoved from one week earlier.
Alberta:
Alberta sulfur netbacks were indicated at $25-$282/mt FOB for the week.
West Coast:
Pricing for West Coast solid sulfur continued at $95-$100/mt FOB, unchanged from the prior report. West Coast molten sulfur contracts were reported at $370-$385/lt FOB for the third quarter.
China:
No changes were heard for the China import market, leaving last-done in the $135-$140/mt CFR range.
ADNOC:
Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. offers were heard at $103/mt FOB Ruwais for October loading, up $11/mt from $92/mt FOB in the prior month.
Qatar:
Muntajat prills were reported at $104/mt FOB Ras Laffan for. Offers were noted at $89/mt FOB in September, a $15/mt difference.