Tampa: Negotiations for new first-quarter sulfur prices for molten sulfur to Tampa were still underway late last week, but the parties were not really that close. A source said sellers were looking to get $20/lt less, but buyers wanted a reduction of closer to $60/lt.
Still, a source close to the talks said a deal should be done before TFI’s conference in San Diego Feb. 5-8.
Refinery capacity operating rates last week increased 0.6 percent, from 85 percent to 85.6 percent.
Vancouver: Contracts were being settled in Vancouver last week in the $170-$175/mt FOB range, which was a sharp decrease from the previous quarter, when prices were over $200/mt FOB.
China was said to be paying around $200/mt, but freight rates have dropped about $10/mt, which would result in a netback of about $170/mt FOB from Vancouver.
West Coast: Spot prices were in the $170-$180/mt FOB range.