Tampa:
Tampa molten sulfur agreements were quoted at $183/lt CFR for fourth-quarter delivery, falling $12/lt from $195/lt CFR in Q3.
U.S. refinery utilization fell for the week ending Oct. 8, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported. Operable capacity stood at 86.7 percent for the period, a 2.9-point slide from 89.6 percent noted previously. Despite the lower numbers, the current-week rate led both the year-ago 75.1 percent and the 83.5 percent five-year average.
Average daily crude inputs were noted falling to 15.061 million barrels/d, a 683,000 barrel/d decline from 15.744 million barrels/d in the prior report.
U.S. Gulf:
The Royal Dutch Shell Plc Norco, La., refinery, one of two refineries still offline following Hurricane Ida, was expected to begin restart efforts during the week, according to Reuters. Norco, along with the flooded Phillips 66 Alliance, La., plant, were taken offline on Aug. 28 in advance of Ida’s landfall.
At Norco, the restart was projected to begin with a 55,000 barrel/d hydrotreater, as well as two sulfur recovery units (SRUs). Repairs at the site have been underway since Aug. 30.
Reuters reported a new contract proposal offered by ExxonMobil Corp. to about 650 United Steelworkers union (USW) local 13-243 members locked out from the plant since May 1. Operations at the 369,000 barrel/d plant have continued at a reduced capacity using temporary workers.
Price ideas on sulfur exported from the Gulf remained at $190-$200/mt FOB, unchanged from one week earlier.
Brazil:
Recent Brazil spot continued in the $244-$246/mt CFR range for the week, sources said. New concluded pricing from the Arab Gulf was expected to lift Brazil toward $260/mt CFR in the next round of business.Fourth-quarter contracts were quoted at $234/mt CFR, increasing from $221-$223/mt CFR in the prior period.
Vancouver:
Sources continued to report last-done Vancouver business in the $180-$192/mt FOB range, flat from the previous report.
Alberta:
Netbacks on Alberta sulfur were indicated in a wide $68-$122/mt FOB range, unchanged from the prior report.
West Coast:
West Coast price ideas continued to be called even with Vancouver at $180-$192/mt FOB, unmoved from one week earlier.Molten sulfur loading from the West Coast was quoted at $160-$170/lt FOB for the fourth quarter, increasing from $150-$155/lt FOB in Q3.
China:
China spot pricing reportedly firmed to $240-$250/mt CFR coming out of the Oct. 1-7 Golden Week holiday. The market was previously reported at $230-$240/mt CFR.
ADNOC:
The shifting economics of the global refining industry has led the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC) to temporarily shelve plans to build a new 400,000 barrel/d refinery in the port city of Ruwais, Arab News reported.
Solid sulfur pricing for October was posted at $193/mt FOB Ruwais, up $13/mt from $180/mt FOB noted in the prior month. Sources described a $220/mt FOB spot cargo trading from the Arab Gulf during the week, signaling a continued rise in sentiment heading into the fourth quarter.
Qatar:
Qatar prills were noted at $192/mt FOB Ras Laffan for October loading, a $14/mt increase from $178/mt FOB in September.