Tampa: Preliminary negotiations for the first-quarter molten sulfur price delivered to Tampa could actually begin before Christmas, although it seemed unlikely an agreement would be reached before the end of the year. If one was, it would be a record.
As world prices continued to edge up, phosphate producers will be pointing to a relatively lackluster performance in their own market as a reason to either hold the line or constrain the price.
Weather was causing temporary delays in shipments by rail to the U.S. from Canada, but no major problems were reported as of late last week. Railcars were said to be tight, and heavy snow in the North was slowing traffic a bit. Fuel surcharges for rail and truck shipments were down somewhat as the price of fuel declined.
Refinery operating capacity rates increased just slightly last week, moving up 0.2 percent to 92.6 percent from the previous week’s 92.4 percent.
The fourth-quarter molten sulfur price delivered to Tampa was $75/lt.
U.S. Gulf: The price range for Gulf prill rose to 95-$100/mt FOB, compared with the previous range of $70-$80/mt FOB.
Vancouver: China was said to be paying between $135/mt and $153/mt DEL for sulfur last week, and that was having a positive impact on sales from Vancouver.
Although the price prillers pay for sulfur from Alberta will not become finalized until after the Tampa price is settled, a source said it was expected to either roll over or move up as much as $15/mt FOB.
The spot price range last week was pegged at $90-$95/mt FOB, up from the previous week’s $70-$75/mt FOB.
West Coast: As the price rises at Vancouver, so too does the price range on the West Coast, which was said to be in the range of $93-$98/mt FOB.
Benelux: The fourth-quarter price range for Benelux was $108-$122/mt.
ADNOC: The November ADNOC price was $80/mt FOB, and $73/mt FOB at Qatar.
Pakistan: Pakistan’s Oil and Gas Development Company Ltd. has invited bids for the sale of 10,000 mt of sulfur from its Dakhni field in the Punjab Province. Bids are due Dec 26.