Tampa:
Tampa molten sulfur contracts were reported at $90/lt CFR for delivery in the fourth quarter, off $262/lt from $352/lt CFR in the prior period.
Operable U.S. refining capacity pressed higher for the week ending Nov. 25, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported. Utilization was noted at a combined 95.2% for the period, up from the prior week’s 93.9% and reflecting a fifth consecutive week of increasing utilization stretching back to Oct. 28. The current rate topped both the year-ago 88.8% and the 89.4% five-year average.
Crude inputs lifted to an average 16.638 million barrels/d, according to EIA data, up from 16.410 million barrels/d reported one week earlier.
US Gulf:
Genscape reported the Nov. 28 shutdown of the 155,000 barrel/d Pipestill 7 crude distillation unit at the 584,000 barrel/d ExxonMobil Corp. Baytown, Texas, refinery, resulting in “significantly decreased” activity at the refinery.
Following the increase at Brazil, market sources quoted sulfur tons loading from the US Gulf at $155-$165/mt FOB, a rise from $147-$155/mt FOB at last report.
Brazil:
New business at Brazil was reported in the $210-$215/mt CFR range, up from the prior $185-$190/mt CFR level. Contracts for sulfur delivered to Brazil in the fourth quarter were quoted at $119-$138/mt CFR.
Vancouver:
Recent Vancouver values were reported in the $150-$160/mt FOB range. Pricing was expected to firm in the next round of business.
Alberta:
With no change at either Vancouver or Tampa, Alberta sulfur netbacks continued in the (-)$25-$90/mt FOB range. Molten tons contracted into the Tampa market established the low, while prilled material selling though the Vancouver export market reflected the high end of the range.
West Coast:
West Coast prills were indicated on par with Vancouver in the $150-$160/mt FOB range. Molten sulfur contracts were noted at $75-$79/lt FOB for the fourth quarter, down from $370-$385/lt FOB in the prior period.
China:
No changes were reported from the last-heard $190-$195/mt CFR China spot import price. Players previously expected values to firm to $200/mt CFR or higher in the next round of business.