Canadian Inventories Mostly Increase from August to September

Canada’s primary underground propane inventories increased by 8.8% in September, according to the Canada Energy Regulator (CER). The total represented a month-to-month increase of 160.1 Mcm. Compared to a year earlier, stocks were lower, with 362.6 Mcm, or 15.5%, less product on hand. 

Propane storages in the West started September a bit higher at 1028.6 Mcm, which corresponds to 6.5 MMbbl, the agency reported. From August to September, volumes increased by 99.0 Mcm, or 10.6%, but were below the year prior’s level of 1477.4 Mcm, for a year-over-year loss of 448.8, or 30.4%. In the East, supplies began the month of September at 945.3 Mcm, commensurate with 6.0 MMbbl. This gain put propane 61.0 Mcm, or 6.9%, higher for the month, with an increase of 86.0, or 10%, above a year earlier. 

Canadian butane inventories stood at 1052 Mcm at the beginning of September, for a slight gain of 5.0 Mcm, or 0.5%, from August. Like propane, the year-over-year comparison finds butane volumes to be lower than the prior year’s total, with inventories 370.3 Mcm, or 26%, below 2020. Western butane supplies, at 604.2 Mcm, were lower by 24.8 Mcm, or 3.9%, from the previous month, and were 306.6 Mcm, or 33.7, lower than last year. Eastern butane, at 447.8 Mcm, was 29.8 Mcm, or 7.1%, higher month over month, and totaled 63.8 Mcm, or 12.5%, below a year earlier. 

Source: Canada Energy Regulator