Tampa: Sources continued to describe ample supply in the domestic sulfur market, thanks to ongoing strength in the refining sector.
ExxonMobil Corp. denied rumors of a Nov. 26 explosion at its 238,000 barrel/d Joliet, Ill., refinery, reports indicated. A loud boom heard in the refinery’s vicinity sparked rumors of an explosion on a number of social media platforms, sources said.
The fourth-quarter price of molten sulfur delivered to Tampa was $110/lt.
Refinery utilization rose substantially for the week, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Domestic refiners operated at 94.5 percent of capacity for the week ending Nov. 27, a 2.5 percent increase from 92.0 percent posted a week earlier.
The current-week rate was higher than both the 93.4 percent on record for the same week of 2014 and the five-year average of 90.1 percent.
Average daily crude inputs grew to 16.803 million barrels/d for the week, a 423,000 barrel/d jump from 16.380 million barrels/d noted for the week-ago.
U.S. Gulf: Sulfur sold from the Gulf Coast was called $115-$120/mt FOB, unmoved from the previous report.
Vancouver: Sources described a slow Vancouver spot market for the week, with prices unchanged at $120/mt FOB. As they have throughout 2015, Vancouver contract prices continued to run even with spot.
Market watchers were divided on the state of the Chinese spot market, however. Some saw the market trending downward, possibly landing in the mid-$130s/mt CFR, while others believed the market had not budged from the last-reported $145/mt CFR.
Netbacks to Alberta producers were quoted at (-)$12-$85/mt FOB, unchanged from recent weeks.
West Coast: West Coast prill was unchanged in a range of $115-$120/mt FOB. Fourth-quarter California molten contracts were $65-$115/lt FOB.
Chevron Corp. reported a fire at its 240,000 barrel/d Richmond, Calif., refinery last week, according to reports. The fire was confined to a non-operating portion of the refinery and was not believed to affect production, sources said.
ADNOC: Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. sulfur was priced at $125/mt FOB Ruwais for November.
Aramco: Prilled sulfur for December loading was $128/mt FOB Jubail, a $13/mt FOB increase from the November price of $115/mt FOB.
Tasweeq: Formed sulfur offered from Qatar firmed last week, Tasweeq announced. Product for December loading was listed at $129/mt FOB Ras Laffan, higher than the $124/mt FOB listed for November.
Mexico: A fire was reported at Mexico’s largest refinery last week, the 330,000 barrel/d Pemex plant located in Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, according to reports. Workers were evacuated during the blaze, and Pemex reported eight people were injured. The refinery continued normal operations following the fire, reports indicated, except for one alkylation unit. It was unknown whether the fire caused the unit to be taken offline.