Inventory 6 10

Total U.S. inventories of propane increased 1.9 MMbbl the week ended May 31 to stand at 47 MMbbl, according to the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) “This Week in Petroleum” report. The agency notes the nation’s stocks as of that reporting period the nation’s stocks were 10.9 MMbbl, or 18.8%, lower than during the same period a year ago.

The Midwest region led the gain with 1.3 MMbbl, while East Coast stocks rose by 0.3 MMbbl. Gulf Coast supplies climbed by 0.2 MMbbl, and Rocky Mountain/West Coast inventories gained 0.1 MMbbl. Propylene non-fuel-use stocks represented 6.6% of total propane supplies.

U.S. propane production for the week stood at 1.356 MMbbld, fractionally higher week over week and up about 0.1 MMbbld for the year. East Coast production was at 0.084 MMbbld, the Midwest 0.3 MMbbld, and the Gulf Coast 0.821 MMbbld. All three regions improved minimally compared to the previous week, however, a year-over-year comparison shows them all dipping marginally.

Imports to the nation were at 0.059 MMbbld, with the East Coast receiving 0.022 MMbbld and the Midwest 0.033 MMbbld. Those tallies varied little compared to the prior week and year. EIA pegged U.S. propane demand for the week ended May 31 at 0.931 MMbbld, down marginally from a week earlier but up slightly from a year ago.