Primary U.S. propane stocks the week ended Aug. 14 gained another 1.1 MMbbl to reach 93.9 MMbbl, according to the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Aug. 19 “This Week in Petroleum” report. As of the last reporting period, inventories stood 21 MMbbl, or 28.9%, higher than a year ago at the same time, according to EIA. Gulf Coast volumes increased by 0.6 MMbbl and the Midwest and Rocky Mountain/West Coast regions both rose 0.2 MMbbl. East Coast supplies remained unchanged. Propylene non-fuel-use stocks represented 4.8% of total inventories, off from 5% the previous week.

U.S. propane production for the week was at 1.620 MMbbld, barely lower than a week earlier but rising nearly 0.1 MMbbld compared to last year. EIA reported East Coast production at 0.181 MMbbld, the Midwest 0.317 MMbbld, and the Gulf Coast 0.962 MMbbld. Although there was little change week over week, East Coast and Midwest production dipped fractionally, while the Gulf Coast posted a minimal improvement. For the year, the Gulf Coast held the lion’s share of the annual increase, while the East Coast contributed marginally and the Midwest was virtually unchanged.

Imports to the nation were at 0.090 MMbbld for the week, only slightly lower than the prior week and rising just fractionally from a year ago. MMbbld and the Midwest 0.040 MMbbld. U.S. propane demand stepped up to 1.010 MMbbld,
about 0.15 MMbbld higher than the previous week and advancing more than 0.2 MMbbld above last year.