Tampa:
BP restarted the 255,000 barrel/d Pipestill 12 crude section at its Whiting, Ind., refinery on Sept. 5 after activity was seen ramping up on Sept. 1. Activity increases were also observed from the 70,000 barrel/d Pipestill 11A crude distillation unit (CDU) on Sept. 5, but remained shy of normal operational levels.
Third-quarter Tampa molten sulfur contracts were concluded at $352/lt CFR, off $129/lt from the prior period’s $481/lt CFR level.
US refining capacity softened for the week ending Sept. 2, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Combined nationwide capacity utilization was pegged at 90.9% for the period, a 1.8-point slide from the previous week’s 92.7% rate, but above both the year-ago 81.9% and the 87.3% five-year average.
Crude inputs fell to an average 15.929 million barrels/d for the period, down 309,000 barrels/d from the previous 16.238 million barrels/d rate.
US Gulf:
LyondellBasell Ind. on Sept. 2 shut a 95,500 barrel/d vacuum distillation unit (VDU) at the company’s Houston, Texas, refinery, Genscape reported. The unit was reported restarting on Sept. 1 following a planned three-week maintenance shutdown that began on Aug. 11.
An 88,000 barrel/d fluidic catalytic cracking unit (FCC) and an associated 12,000 barrel/d hydrotreater at the Motiva Port Arthur, Texas, refinery were successfully restarted on Sept. 2 after shutting down on Aug. 30 due to a leaking pipe.
Shell was noted restarting at 250,000 barrel/d CDU, a 78,000 barrel/d VDU, and a 21,000 barrel/d coking unit at its Norco, La., plant on the morning of Sept. 7. The CDU was reported shutting down on Sept. 3, followed by the coker on Sept. 6, due to an equipment failure and subsequent power outage.
Recent confirmed business on the US Gulf sulfur market continued to be heard in the $39-$56/mt FOB range, unmoved from the prior report. A $75/mt FOB cargo rumored trading during the week failed to find confirmation on Sept. 8.
Brazil:
Galvani Fertilizantes has scrapped its pending sulfur purchase tender without awards after receiving bids that the company believed were too high, sources said. Prices were believed to land in the neighborhood of $130/mt CFR, in line with recent values reported out of the China import market but above recent equivalent US Gulf export sales.
With no new business or firm indications reported, the Brazil market remained at the prior $90-$100/mt CFR level.
Vancouver:
Volatility in the China import market reportedly pushed Vancouver export values to the $85-$90/mt FOB range during the week, above the last reported $70-$75/mt FOB range.
Alberta:
Alberta sulfur netbacks were indicated in the $15-$282/mt FOB range, firming from $0-$282/mt FOB one week earlier.
West Coast:
West Coast price ideas followed Vancouver to the $85-$90/mt FOB range for the period, up from the prior week’s $70-$75/mt FOB. Third-quarter molten sulfur contracts were reported at $370-$385/lt FOB, below the second quarter’s $375-$390/lt.
China:
After reportedly achieving a fresh nearby high at $140/mt CFR at the start of the Sept. 2-8 trading period, sources reported China import values softening to the mid-$120s/mt CFR by Sept. 8, leaving the market in the $125-$140/mt CFR range for the week.
ADNOC:
Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC) sulfur offers were heard firming to $92/mt FOB Ruwais for September lifting. Offers were reported at $85/mt FOB for the prior month, a $7/mt difference.
Qatar:
Qatar sulfur offers were heard at $89/mt FOB Ras Laffan for September, a $12/mt increase from $77/mt in August.