Propane Imports Jump, Exports Edge Up

While propane exports from U.S. shores barely rose during December compared to a month earlier, imports jumped a significant 60.1%, with an additional 2,128,401 bbl arriving compared to November, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), which pegged December levels at 5,671,308 bbl. For the year, imports showed a more modest 8.1% increase, stepping up by 426,240 bbl.

Propane exports posted a 1.3% gain month over month, rising 163,054 bbl to stand at 12,470,525 bbl by month’s end, reports DOC. Compared to December 2012, exports climbed a whopping 97.2%, or by 6,146,559 bbl.

Meanwhile, butane exports also ramped up in December, rising 78.5%, or 391,594 bbl, from November to end the month at 889,805 bbl, 42%, or 264,048 bbl, higher than a year earlier. Butane imports slumped for the month and year, falling 18%, or 60,075 bbl, under November and a steeper 44.3%, or 217,793 bbl, from December 2012.

Recapping the DOC report:

			IMPORTS
PROPANE		Volume in BBL		BUTANE		Volume in BBL
Canada to:				Canada to:
Portland, ME		110,741		Buffalo, NY		21,583
St. Albans, VT		511,637		Seattle, WA		117,399
Ogdensburg, NY		238,070		Great Falls, MT		16,403
Buffalo, NY		723,302		Pembina, ND		750
Seattle, WA		172,282		Duluth, MN		4,539
Anchorage, AK		7,409		Detroit, MI		98,137
Great Falls, MT		469,421		Canadian Total		258,811
Pembina, ND		2,423,061
Duluth, MN		108,912		Rep.Korea-NY City		1,716
Minneapolis, MN		193,374		Italy-Chicago		48
Detroit, MI		472,824		Rep.Korea-Norfolk		510
Canadian Total		5,431,033		Rep.Korea-Los Angeles		10,491
				Rep.Korea-San Francisco		458
Dominican Republic-Hawaii		39,454		Rep.Korea-Seattle		1,700
Dominican Republic-Puerto Rico		71,960		TOTAL BUTANE		273,734
Trinidad-Puerto Rico		50,040
Dominican Republic-Virgin Islands		59,381		Value CIF		$19,445,268
Colombia-Virgin Islands		19,440		Value/bbl		$71.04
TOTAL PROPANE		5,671,308		Value Cents/Gal.		169.14
Value CIF		$277,220,797
Value/bbl		$48.88
Value Cents/Gal.		116.38
			EXPORTS
		Volume		Value	Value	Value
PROPANE		in BBL		CIF	per BBL	Cents/Gal.
United States to:
Canada		158,223		$9,402,789	$59.43	141.49
Mexico		3,469,401		211,277,109	60.90	144.99
Central America		3,727,927		209,862,740	56.29	134.04
Caribbean		593,575		31,869,980	53.69	127.84
Europe		1,424,785		83,544,777	58.64	139.61
Far East		3,096,118		181,627,776	58.66	139.67
Pacific		496		28,286	57.03	135.78
TOTAL PROPANE		12,470,525		$727,613,457	$58.35	138.92
BUTANE
United States to:
Canada		345,168		$23,003,013	$66.64	158.67
Mexico		53,654		3,330,724	62.08	147.80
Central America		277,113		17,730,025	63.98	152.34
Caribbean		142		8,775	61.80	147.13
Africa		213,728		16,651,437	77.91	185.50
TOTAL BUTANE		889,805		$60,723,974	$68.24	162.49