Tampa:
Genscape reported increased activity from a 95,000 barrel/d fluidic catalytic cracking unit (FCC) and 56,000 barrel/d coking united at the ExxonMobil Corp. refinery in Joliet, Ill., on May 21. Despite the ongoing ramp-up, both units remained below operational levels. The facility was expected to begin restarting production next week after fully shutting down in early April for a planned turnaround.
BP on May 21 restarted the 70,000 barrel/d Ultraformer 4 catalytic reforming unit at its plant in Whiting, Ind. The reformer had been offline since May 13.
Second-quarter Tampa molten contracts were confirmed at $192/lt CFR, double the first quarter’s $96/lt CFR value.
U.S. refinery utilization lifted higher for the week ending May 21, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Refiners operated at 87.0 percent total capacity, a 0.7-point boost from the week-ago 86.3 percent average. The rate also led the year-ago 71.3 percent, while matching the 87.0 percent five-year average.
Crude inputs also edged up to an average 15.239 million barrels/d for the week, increasing 123,000 barrels/d from 15.116 million barrels/d in the previous report.
U.S. Gulf:
Phillips 66 restarted a 103,000 barrel/d vacuum distillation unit (VDU) at its Alliance, La., refinery on the evening of May 20, Genscape noted. A 65,000 barrel/d hydrotreater was returned to production alongside the VDU. The VDU and an additional 35,000 barrel/d hydrotreater were taken offline on the morning of May 20, while a 269,000 barrel/d crude distillation unit (CDU) was reported offline on May 17-18 due to a malfunctioning heater.
Increased activity was observed on May 22 from the 30,000 barrel/d FCC Unit 40 at the Phillips plant in Borger, Texas. The unit was shut down on April 23.
Platts reported operational hiccups at Texas plants operated by Motiva and Total. The facilities were reportedly impacted by heavy rain and the resulting power dips, although sources believed operations were quickly restored.
Mexico state oil company Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) has struck a deal to take full control of a Houston refinery that it currently co-owns with Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Bloomberg reported. The $596 million deal came as the result of an unsolicited offer from Pemex, and is expected to aid in Mexico’s ongoing pursuit of increased energy independence. The purchase was expected to close in the fourth quarter.
Pemex originally bought a 50 percent share of the refinery in 1993, paying more than $200 million at the time. The facility currently purchases about 70,000 barrels/d of Pemex’s Maya crude.
Firming price ideas at Brazil were seen lifting potential Gulf netbacks to the $185-$190/mt FOB range, up from $180-$185/mt FOB in the prior report.
Brazil:
Rising freight costs reportedly pushed Brazil import price ideas to the $215-$220/mt CFR level, above the last-reported $209/mt CFR. Second-quarter contract volumes continued to be quoted in the $213-$214/mt CFR range.
Vancouver:
No changes were reported on the Vancouver export market, leaving pricing at a last-done $170-$180/mt FOB. Recent upward movement at China was expected to press Vancouver higher in the next round of trading, sources said, assuming the firmer levels hold.
Alberta:
Sulfur produced in Alberta netted back to sellers in the $65-$110/mt FOB range. Molten material contracted into the U.S. market was noted setting the low, while prilled tons trading offshore through the Vancouver export market were responsible for the highs.
West Coast:
Increased activity was observed on May 20 from a 32,000 barrel/d CDU at a Phillips refinery in Rodeo, Calif., Genscape reported, although the unit remained below operational levels. The CDU was taken offline for planned maintenance on Feb. 10.
West Coast prills continued to be reported at $170-$180/mt FOB. Sources quoted molten sulfur contracts in the $140-$155/lt FOB range for distribution in the second quarter, increasing from $70-$77/lt FOB in the previous period.
China:
Sources reported the China spot market firming to the $210-$212/mt CFR range, rising from $180-$200/mt CFR reported previously.
ADNOC:
Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. solid sulfur offers stood at $183/mt FOB Ruwais for loading in May, down $2/mt from $185/mt FOB in April.
Qatar:
Prills loading from Qatar were quoted at $183/mt FOB Ras Laffan, a $2/mt discount from April’s $185/mt FOB posting.