Tampa: After the settlement between phosphate producers and their major suppliers at the end of April for second quarter prices for molten sulfur delivered to Tampa, supply and demand continued to remain in balance.
Interestingly, shortly after the Tampa price was settled, ADNOC raised its price for May sulfur by $10/mt, from $200/mt to $210/mt FOB. ADNOC’s price has increased about $20/mt FOB since the beginning of the year, while the Tampa price has gone up only $8/lt.
Last week, the U.S. Department of Energy said the weekly operating capacity rate for refineries increased 1.3 percent, from 84.7 percent to 86 percent. However, because refineries were using more sweet crude than sour, it will not provide any significant increase in the amount of sulfur produced.
A possible rail strike by Canadian Pacific workers could affect deliveries into the U.S., as well as Vancouver. Also, problems at the oil sands area were said to be over, and rates of production were returning to normal.
Vancouver: Spot prices for prill from Vancouver were running in the $180-$185/mt FOB range. Contracts were calling for prices between $190-$200/mt FOB.
The 5,000 members of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference voted 95 percent for a strike position after May 22. The union represents conductors, trainmen, yardmen, locomotive engineers, and traffic controllers at Canadian Pacific Railway.
West Coast: Prices for sulfur from the West Coast were also in the $180-$185/mt FOB range.