Tampa: The potential price for molten sulfur delivered to Tampa for the fourth quarter was a topic of discussion last week. The opinion of the buyers was that prices should fall $30-$40/lt, but sellers were of the opinion it would either rollover or fall somewhere between $5-$20/lt.
Buyers point to more sulfur available from the Gulf Coast, because prices there have fallen along with demand for prill for export. They also believe sulfur from Alberta will continue flowing south, even though at a loss for each ton. Those who can block do, but not all can.
Sellers said if the price did fall by $30-$40/lt, the export market would become much more attractive and sulfur would be diverted from Tampa to other destinations. That would matter more if phosphate was selling, and selling at a better price.
Technically, negotiations should begin this week.
Refinery operating capacity rates fell 2.2 percent last week, from 92.5 the previous week to 90.3. Last year for the same week, the rate was 87.4 percent, and the four-year average was 88.3 percent.
The third-quarter price for molten sulfur delivered to Tampa was $95/lt.
Vancouver: Sulfur prices at Vancouver were not firm and were falling into the range of $50-$70/mt FOB last week.
West Coast: Prices on the West Coast for sulfur were following Vancouver and were in the $53-$73/mt FOB range.
U.S. Gulf: The price range for Gulf prill moved down to a range of $60-$65/mt FOB, due to its export bias, but exports have fallen off during the past few months. Less was going to prillers, which was boosting supplies of molten sulfur to Tampa.
Benelux: The Benelux price range for the third quarter was $140-$155/mt.
ADNOC: The ADNOC price was set $80/mt FOB, down from the previous $90/mt FOB.