Tampa:
Genscape on Oct. 17 reported the return to normal operation of a 104,000 barrel/d crude distillation unit (CDU) and a 26,000 barrel/d vacuum distillation unit (VDU) at the Monroe Energy refinery in Trainer, Pa. The units were noted going offline for maintenance on Sept. 10.
BP shut the 115,000 barrel/d Pipestill 11C CDU and an associated 60,000 barrel/d VDU at the company’s Whiting, Ind., facility on Oct. 17. The plant’s 115,000 barrel/d FCU 500 fluidic catalytic cracking unit (FCC) was reportedly idled on Sept. 22 for planned maintenance through mid-November.
Fourth-quarter Tampa molten contracts were concluded at $90/lt CFR, a $262/lt decline from $352/lt CFR in the third quarter.
Operable refining capacity in the US ebbed lower for the week ending Oct. 14, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Combined nationwide refinery utilization was reported at 89.5% for the period, down from the prior week’s 89.9% but above both the year-ago 84.7% and the 83.8% five-year average.
Daily crude inputs also moved lower, with the EIA noting inputs at an average 15.550 million barrels/d for the week, down 133,000 barrels/d from the prior week’s 15.683 million barrels/d rate.
US Gulf:
Genscape reported a brief decrease in activity from the 64,000 barrel/d CDU at the Calcasieu Lake Charles, La., refinery on Oct. 18. The dip was recorded following the shutdown of one of the unit’s two furnaces. The unit returned to full operation on Oct. 19.
Multiple unit shutdowns were recorded at the Delek Big Springs, Texas, refinery during the week. A 74,000 barrel/d CDU, a 24,000 barrel/d CDU, a 22,000 barrel/d catalytic reformer, and a 25,000 barrel/d hydrotreater were noted going offline on Oct. 18. Two additional hydrotreaters were seen powering down on Oct. 16, while a 25,000 barrel/d FCC and a 12,000 barrel/d hydrotreater were shut on Oct. 15.
Recent business out of the US Gulf firmed to $100-$120/mt FOB during the week, sources said, a $10/mt increase from the prior $90-$110/mt FOB range.
Brazil:
Recent Brazil sulfur imports firmed to the $139-$158/mt CFR range, slightly above the previously reported $138-$158/mt CFR. Sources quoted fourth-quarter contracts in the $119-$138/mt CFR range after most buyers omitted purchase contracts in the third quarter.
Vancouver:
With values at China on the rise, new sales from Vancouver lifted the market to $115-$120/mt FOB, sources said, up from $95-$100/mt FOB at last report.
Alberta:
Netbacks on the sale of molten and prilled sulfur from Alberta were pegged in the (-)25-$50/mt FOB range, firming from (-)25-$25/mt FOB reported previously. Solid tons trading internationally through the Vancouver export market established the high, while molten material contracted into the US market set the low.
West Coast:
Genscape reported the Oct. 14 shutdown of a 40,000 barrel/d distillate hydrotreater at the Phillips 66 Carson, Calif., refinery. Significant decreases in activity at the refinery accompanied the shutdown. Increased activity was observed from the unit on Oct. 17, although no restart was reported as of Oct. 19.
Increased activity on Oct. 17 was also noted from a 62,000 barrel/d VDU at the Marathon refinery in Carson, Calif., although the levels remained shy of normal operating activity. The unit, along with a 65,000 barrel/d CDU, were taken offline on Sept. 16. The CDU remained shut down on Oct. 17.
The West Coast export market was even with Vancouver at $115-$120/mt FOB, firming from $95-$100/mt FOB in the prior report.
Molten sulfur contracts were reported in the $75-$79/lt FOB range for fourth-quarter loading, declining from $370-$385/lt FOB in the prior period.
China:
China spot values continued to firm during the week, with sources quoting last-done business at $150-$160/mt CFR, rising from the week-ago $145-$150/mt CFR.
ADNOC:
Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC) solid sulfur offers were heard at $103/mt FOB Ruwais for October lifting, up $11/mt from September’s $92/mt FOB.
Qatar:
Sulfur loading from Qatar was posted at $104/mt FOB Ras Laffan for October, up $15/mt from September’s $89/mt.