Urethane Blog

September Benzene Settles Down

September 1, 2015

US Sep benzene down on crude volatility

31 August 2015 21:03 Source:ICIS News

HOUSTON (ICIS)–US September benzene contract prices settled on Monday at $2.01/gal, a 79 cents/gal drop from August levels, amid volatility in upstream crude oil markets.

The September settlement marks the second consecutive drop in monthly benzene contract prices, since the July settlement at $3.05/gal. The decline for September also is the steepest single-month drop since a $1.17/gal decline for the January contract price from December and is equal to the February contract price, which was the lowest of the year.

Contract prices generally take direction from the spot market prior to the contract settlements. Leading up to the August settlement, spot prices ranged $2.77-2.82/gal FOB (free on board). Last week, spot prices ranged $1.88-2.15/gal FOB, an average drop of about 78 cents/gal.

Spot prices have been under pressure in August from declines in upstream oil values.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures had been in a downtrend since late June. In the wake of losses in global financial markets, the US crude oil benchmark settled below $40/bbl early last week, its lowest level since 2009.

WTI recent settlements:

US benzene spot values tracked the decline of crude oil, dropping 10-20 cents/gal on Monday from the week prior and trading as low as $1.88/gal FOB (free on board) on Wednesday, also marking its lowest levels since 2009.

While WTI values surged late last week, recovering more than its early week losses, the upstream volatility caused uncertainty in the US benzene market and limited gains. US benzene sport prices on Friday closed the week nearly flat with the week prior.

In Europe, benzene contract prices were under similar pressure after a declines in upstream crude oil caused spot benzene prices to drop to their lowest levels in six years. Despite a spot price rally and difficult negotiations, European September contract prices also declined.

Major US benzene producers include ExxonMobil, Flint Hills Resources, LyondellBasell, Marathon Petroleum, Shell and Phillips 66.

 

http://www.icis.com/resources/news/2015/08/31/9919415/us-sep-benzene-down-on-crude-volatility/

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