Tampa: The new molten sulfur price for the third quarter was settled the previous week at $170/lt, down $10/lt from the previous quarter’s $180/lt.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) said the refinery operating capacity rate dropped 0.8 percent last week, from 93 percent to 92.2 percent.
The basis for determining capacity has been changed from the previous year, however. In 2011, the DOE was using a refining capacity of 17.736 million barrels, but adjusted capacity to 17.230 million barrels this year. That, and the greater use of lower sulfur oil for refining, may account for the high capacity operating rate, but little changed in the amount of sulfur produced.
U.S. Gulf: Prices were in the $180-$185/mt range for prill exports.
Benelux: The current price range was $212-$220/mt FOB.