All posts by mickeybarb@charter.net

Sulfur

Alberta, Brazil, China, Market Watch, Sulfur, Tampa, U.S. Gulf, Vancouver, West Coast

Tampa:

Tampa molten sulfur contracts were reported at $90/lt CFR for delivery in the fourth quarter, off $262/lt from $352/lt CFR in the prior period.

Operable U.S. refining capacity pressed higher for the week ending Nov. 25, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported. Utilization was noted at a combined 95.2% for the period, up from the prior week’s 93.9% and reflecting a fifth consecutive week of increasing utilization stretching back to Oct. 28. The current rate topped both the year-ago 88.8% and the 89.4% five-year average.

Crude inputs lifted to an average 16.638 million barrels/d, according to EIA data, up from 16.410 million barrels/d reported one week earlier.

US Gulf:

Genscape reported the Nov. 28 shutdown of the 155,000 barrel/d Pipestill 7 crude distillation unit at the 584,000 barrel/d ExxonMobil Corp. Baytown, Texas, refinery, resulting in “significantly decreased” activity at the refinery.

Following the increase at Brazil, market sources quoted sulfur tons loading from the US Gulf at $155-$165/mt FOB, a rise from $147-$155/mt FOB at last report.

Brazil:

New business at Brazil was reported in the $210-$215/mt CFR range, up from the prior $185-$190/mt CFR level. Contracts for sulfur delivered to Brazil in the fourth quarter were quoted at $119-$138/mt CFR.

Vancouver:

Recent Vancouver values were reported in the $150-$160/mt FOB range. Pricing was expected to firm in the next round of business.

Alberta:

With no change at either Vancouver or Tampa, Alberta sulfur netbacks continued in the (-)$25-$90/mt FOB range. Molten tons contracted into the Tampa market established the low, while prilled material selling though the Vancouver export market reflected the high end of the range.

West Coast:

West Coast prills were indicated on par with Vancouver in the $150-$160/mt FOB range. Molten sulfur contracts were noted at $75-$79/lt FOB for the fourth quarter, down from $370-$385/lt FOB in the prior period.

China:

No changes were reported from the last-heard $190-$195/mt CFR China spot import price. Players previously expected values to firm to $200/mt CFR or higher in the next round of business.

CF Donaldsonville Ammonia Leak Causes School Evacuation, Road Closures

Ammonia, Louisiana, News, News Briefs

An early morning ammonia leak on Dec. 1 at CF Industries Holdings Inc.’s Donaldsonville, La., nitrogen complex caused the evacuation of the nearby Donaldsonville Primary School to another school a few miles away, according to The Advocate, which also reported road closures and shelter-in-place warnings.

CF said in a statement that at approximately 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1, the facility experienced an ammonia release in an ammonia storage loading area onsite. A flange on an ammonia storage tank failed, according to the paper, citing a source with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.

CF said work to contain the release began immediately and the release was fully halted at approximately 11:40 a.m. No injuries were reported related to the incident.

CF said local officials lifted the precautionary shelter-in-place order for those who were at Donaldsonville Primary School. Air monitoring by CF personnel did not detect any levels of ammonia at the school during the incident. Roads surrounding the facility were reopened.

“Our primary focus is always on the safety of our employees, our neighbors, and the environment,” said Morris Johnson, General Manager, Donaldsonville Complex. “CF Industries will continue to work with local officials to provide any additional updates on the incident as warranted.”

CF said all appropriate local emergency response and government officials were notified of the incident. An investigation will be conducted by the company in cooperation with appropriate authorities.

Ammonium Thiosulfate

Amthio, California, Eastern Cornbelt, Market Watch, Pacific N.W., Specialty, Western Canada, Western Cornbelt

Eastern Cornbelt:

Ammonium thiosulfate pricing was steady at $400-$450/st FOB in the Eastern Cornbelt, depending on location and time of shipment.

Western Cornbelt:

The ammonium thiosulfate market was unchanged at $350-$450/st FOB in the Western Cornbelt, with the low reported in Nebraska and the high in Iowa.

California:

The ammonium thiosulfate market was down slightly at $500-$530/st FOB in California.

Pacific Northwest:

Ammonium thiosulfate pricing in the Pacific Northwest remained at $422-$427/st FOB terminals in Washington.

Western Canada:

The last confirmed ammonium thiosulfate business remained at the C$530/mt DEL level in Saskatchewan.