Tampa:
PBF Energy restarted the 94,000 barrel/d crude distillation unit (CDU) at the company’s Toledo, Ohio, refinery on June 16, Genscape reported. The unit was reported going offline earlier the same morning.
Players continued to cite expectations of softening in the third-quarter contract price of molten sulfur delivered to Tampa. Most anticipated a possible $20-$50/lt decline from the second-quarter $481/lt CFR contract price.
Due to a delay in weekly data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, refinery capacity utilization and crude oil input data was unavailable at press time.
U.S. Gulf:
The Motiva Port Arthur, Texas, refinery on June 20 suffered the unplanned shutdown of an 88,000 barrel/d fluidic catalytic cracking unit (FCC), according to a TCEQ filing reported by Genscape. The unit began restart procedures the same morning, and was reported returning to normal operation on the afternoon of June 21.
Following a shutdown on June 13, ExxonMobil Corp. restarted the 225,000 barrel/d crude section at its Baton Rouge, La., facility on June 21.
All units at the Valero Houston, Texas, plant were noted at normal operational levels on June 21 after Genscape detected a June 20 burst of emissions consistent with a fire.
A 35,000 mt cargo was reported concluding out of the Gulf on June 23. Destined into the Brazil market, the load was expected to load promptly from Beaumont, Texas. Combined with early-week trades and indications, the full-week Gulf market was noted in a wide $420-$460/mt FOB range, falling from $470-$475/mt FOB reported previously.
Brazil:
Pricing on cargoes sold into Brazil was reported softening to a wide $458-$500/mt CFR for the full week, declining from the week-ago $515-$520/mt CFR. Among the cargoes targeted to Brazil was a $420/mt FOB vessel loading from the U.S. Gulf, with freight projected to land around the $38-$40/mt mark.
Players attributed the falling prices to plentiful supply both internationally and in the U.S. Gulf, combined with general softening of international sentiment.
Second-quarter solid sulfur contracts were quoted in the $480-$485/mt CFR range.
Vancouver:
Vancouver solid sulfur cargoes were heard slipping to $440-$450/mt FOB due to lower pricing reported out of China. The market was previously pegged at $470-$475/mt FOB.
Alberta:
Alberta netbacks reportedly remained at $366-$411/mt FOB, steady from week-ago levels. The range included both molten material contracted into the U.S. market and solid tons exported through the Vancouver offshore market.
West Coast:
A planned turnaround set to run through the end of July saw multiple units shut on June 18 at the Chevron Corp. facility in Richmond, Calif., Genscape reported. Among the units observed going offline were a 257,000 barrel/d CDU, a 124,000 barrel/d vacuum distillation unit (VDU), and a 58,000 barrel/d hydrotreater. A 65,000 barrel/d hydrotreater and a 28,000 barrel/d catalytic reformer were powered down on June 17.
West Coast prill indications followed Vancouver down to the $440-$450/mt FOB range, below $470-$475/mt FOB at last report.
Second-quarter molten sulfur contracts were noted at $375-$390/lt FOB, higher than $230-$245/lt FOB in Q1.
China:
Players noted the China import sulfur market sinking to a general $480-$490/mt CFR range through the week, below $520/mt CFR reported previously.
ADNOC:
Sulfur cargoes were reportedly offered at $480/mt FOB Ruwais by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. for June.
Qatar:
Qatar prills were posted at $490/mt FOB Ras Laffan for June loading. Lower pricing was expected in the next round of business.