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WATCH FOR: Stockbuilding returns * Propane values inched up relative to crude. June Tet propane traded at 73pc of the value of Nymex crude oil, compared to 70pc in early [...]

WATCH FOR Inland stockdraws * US propane inventories fell steeply by 1.2mn bl in the week ending 7 November. The draw centred on the US Gulf coast, where imports dropped [...]

WATCH FOR Naphtha strength * November Tet normal butane commands a 0.75>/USG premium to non-Tet normal butane. A squeeze in current month supply and strong buying interest, especially from refiners, [...]

WATCH FOR Blending demand * The recent weakness in propane prices narrowed the spread between non-Tot purity ethane and let propane to early-September levels of 16cents/USG. Petrochemical users still prefer [...]

* Propane imports continue to flow into the US, totalling 2.3mn bl in October. November imports are expected to reach nearly the same levels. But US inventories fell by 902,000 [...]

WATCH FOR Strong prices * The spread between October Tet propane and non-Tet normal butane widened to 14.75 cents/USG, the widest it has been since the end of March. Despite [...]

WATCH FOR Low inventories * Propane prices jumped to their highest level since mid June, prompted by a second consecutive weekly inventory draw, short-covering, and a sharp spike in crude [...]

WATCH FOR Weaker market Allocation on the northeast Tet pipeline system have left traders in the region scrambling for propane as the winter heating season nears. Starting on 23 September, [...]

WATCH FOR Strong petchem demand The spread between September non-Tet purity ethane and E/P mix crumbled as petrochemicals shuffled to balance E/P mix inventories. E/P mix is in strong demand [...]

WATCH FOR Chinese buying * US propane inventories rose by 979,000 bl to 63.7mn bl in the first week of September. This was only slightly below market expectations and did [...]

WATCH FOR Gasoline-blending * Mont Belvieu isobutane regained its premium over normal butane, after falling to a discount in late August. Fresh demand for refinery alkylation, stronger MTBE prices, and [...]

WATCH FOR Weaker prices * Natural gas stocks rose by 82bn [ft.sup.3] (2.3bn [m.sup.3]) in the week ending 8 August, well above the market's expectations and 61pc higher than the [...]

WATCH FOR Falling prices * Overall the market remains well supplied as cargoes continue to arrive from South America. But the arbitrage from Europe is closed and very few spot [...]

WATCH FOR Rising stocks and imports * April Mont Belvieu Tel propane Js trading at 49.50 cents/USG. Propane imports--desperately needed to build low inventories--are slowly trickling into the market. About [...]

WATCH FOR Negative NGL margins * Petrochemical producers are cracking more naphtha and propane than purity ethane because of better margins. With several petrochemical producers selling their purity ethane stocks, [...]

WATCH FOR Sliding prices * Mild weather and weak demand are denting prices. While fundamentals dictate short-term direction traders are also keeping an eye on volatile crude prices. March Mont [...]

WATCH FOR Falling prices * Despite high crude oil prices, heavy natural gas liquids values have declined as the gasoline-blending season draws to a close. This is reflected in normal [...]

WATCH FOR Continuing strength * Robust demand sent Mont Belvieu propane prices to 74.625 cents/USG in early February. But, barely a week later, milder weather helped to slash values to [...]

WATCH FOR Big stock draws * Cold temperatures and winter storms helped slash total US propane inventories by 2.8mn bl to 58.3mn bl for the week ending 6 December. This [...]

WATCH FOR Bullish momentum slowing * Normal butane has been trading thinly, and sellers prefer to hold on to their volumes even though prices have moved higher, in line with [...]

WATCH FOR Demand for ethane * Ethane prices are relatively lower than propane and natural gasoline for petrochemical producers, making ethane an attractive petrochemical feedstock option. * The spread between [...]

WATCH FOR Bullish hopes from cold spell * The market is hoping that colder weather and steady exports out of the US will help lift propane prices in December. * [...]

WATCH FOR Bullish momentum slowing * Mont Belvieu heavy liquids trade has slowed as supplies tighten. A fractionator in turnaround is tightening non-Tet normal butane supplies and pushing the forward [...]

WATCH FOR Falling stocks * Cold weather in the midcontinent and crop drying demand helped propane inventories to slide further than expected. Total US propane stocks fell 2.7mn bl for [...]

WATCH FOR Rising prices * The high US stockdraw and cold weather in the mid-continent is driving propane prices up. November Tet propane traded between 48.25 cents/USG and 48.375 cents/USG. [...]

WATCH FOR Petrochemical demand * While most NGLs fell at the start of the month, November non Tet normal butane rose with stronger natural gas prices. The spread between non [...]

WATCH FOR Shrinking stocks * October Tet propane traded slightly higher than September levels as colder weather arrived. October Tet propane traded from 48.5 cents/USG to 49 cents/USG, with the [...]

WATCH FOR Supply squeeze * Tropical storms and hurricanes in the Gulf coast curtailed gas plant and refinery production, causing a supply squeeze in the midcontinent. Refinery turnarounds have exacerbated [...]

WATCH FOR The impact of gasoline prices * Strong refinery demand in Conway lifted natural gasoline prices to high levels. October natural gasoline in Conway traded at 71 cents/USG as [...]

WATCH FOR Prices following crude direction * Fear of Hurricane Lili hitting the US Gulf coast propelled NGL values higher. October Tet propane traded at 48.125 cents/USG. November Tet propane [...]

WATCH FOR Gasoline blending impact * September non-Tet isobutane demand is expected to slump as alkylation rates are forecast to drop and a major MTBE plant will reportedly be in [...]

WATCH FOR Stocks pressuring prices * September Mont Belvieu propane prices followed movements in crude, but positive momentum stalled late last week as buyers backed away from what they saw [...]

WATCH FOR High stocks, lacklustre trade * Propane prices drifted in lacklustre trade as stocks remain well above the last five-year average. August Tet propane traded at 38.25 cents/USG. September [...]

WATCH FOR Narrowing differentials * Isobutane's premium to normal butane narrowed to 7 cents/USG after peaking at an unseasonably high 9.5 cents/USG. A major was heard buying a lot of [...]

WATCH FOR Price rises * Paraffinic naphtha prices slid on losses in natural gasoline, but the loss in paraffinic prices did not match the drop in crude oil futures on [...]

WATCH FOR Credit fears * July propane prices are following the downward spiral in crude oil futures. Continued falls in the US stock market have shell shocked the NGL industry, [...]

* Propane prices continue to follow crude futures, which are falling as crude and products stocks remain relatively strong. June Tet propane traded at 37.5 cents/USG. July Tet propane is [...]

WATCH FOR Feedstock demand * Petrochemical demand for paraffinic naphtha remains muted, with NGLs a relatively cheaper feedstock option. But producers have been buying paraffinic naphtha to meet their baseload [...]

WATCH FOR Price volatility * A volatile futures market is having a push-and-pull effect on liquids prices. May Tet propane was at 41.25 cents/USG. June Tet propane is at a [...]

WATCH FOR Petchems have buying choices * LPG is still a cheaper feedstock option for the petrochemical sector, but paraffinic material provides a better yield of propylene and aromatics. Paraffinic [...]

WATCH FOR Prices strengthening * Mid-east tensions continue to push propane prices higher, tracking the upward trend in crude April Tet propane traded at 42 cents/USG. May Tet propane is [...]

WATCH FOR Feedstock demand * Stronger propylene prices over ethylene prices have encouraged a widening spread between propane and ethane. April Mont Belvieu Tat propane is now seen trading at [...]

WATCH FOR Propane price rises * April Tet propane prices have risen, trading at 39,75 cents/USG. May Tet propane is trading flat to April prices. The May through June Tet [...]

WATCH FOR Rising petchem demand * Swollen petrochemical demand for normal butane as a feedstock has run up the spread between wet barrels and 'any' month barrels. Several petrochemicals have [...]

WATCH FOR Gasoline blending demand * The Mont Belvieu heavies were stronger on the back of blending demand and rising crude oil prices, although, like propane, forward prices show a [...]

WATCH FOR Gas and crude boosting NGLs * Escalating violence in the Middle East and soaring natural gas prices gave the April NGL market a jump-start on the first trade [...]

WATCH FOR Unusual market conditions midwest * March TET propane traded at 38.75 cents/USG. The March through 2Q TET propane forward curve is relatively flat. The 2Q through 4Q TET [...]

WATCH FOR Ethane tracks higher * March natural gasoline at Merit Belvieu traded at 55.75 cents/USG April natural gasoline is at a 0.25 cents discount to March prices. The spread [...]

WATCH FOR Gasoline blending demand for butane on the rise * The seasonal change from spring grade to summer-grade gasoline spurred demand for Mont Belvieu heavies. Non-Tot normal butane traded [...]

WATCH FOR Colder temperatures buoying up heating demand * March Tet propane traded at 34.50 cents/USG. The March through 2Q Tet propane forward curve is flat. The 2Q through 4Q [...]