Canadian Inventories Increased From April to May

Canada’s primary underground propane inventories increased by 34.3% in May, according to the Canada Energy Regulator. The total represented a month-to-month increase of 136.8 Mcm. Compared to a year earlier, stocks were lower, with 360.7 Mcm, or 40.3%, less product on hand.

Propane storages in the West started May higher at 412.6 Mcm, which corresponds to 2.599 MMbbl, the agency reported. From April to May, volumes increased by 121 Mcm, or 41.5%, and were 273.3 Mcm, or 39.8%, less the year prior’s level of 685.9 Mcm.

Propane storages in the East started May a bit higher at 122.8, commensurate with 774,000 bbl. This gain put propane 15.8 Mcm, or 14.8%, higher for the month, with a decrease of 87.3 Mcm, or 41.6%, below a year earlier.

Canadian butane inventories stood at 680.9 Mcm at the beginning of May, for an increase of 249 Mcm, or 57.7%, from April. Unlike propane, the year-over-year comparison finds butane volumes to be higher than the prior year’s total, with inventories 143.8 Mcm, or 26.8%, above 2024.

Western butane supplies, at 467.7 Mcm, were higher by 184.3 Mcm, or 65%, from the previous month and were 81.3 Mcm, or 21%, more than last year. Eastern butane, at 213.2 Mcm, was 64.7 Mcm, or 43.6%, higher month over month, and totaled 62.5 Mcm, or 41.5%, above a year earlier.