U.S. Propane Inventories Rise 0.1 MMbbl

U.S. propane stocks the week ended Nov. 14 increased by 0.1 MMbbl to stand at 81.2 MMbbl, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA) in its Nov. 19 “This Week in Petroleum” report. As of that reporting period, the nation’s inventories stood 22.8 MMbbl, or 39%, higher than a year ago. Gulf Coast volumes rose by 0.4 MMbbl, while the Midwest declined by 0.3 MMbbl. East Coast and Rocky Mountain/West Coast supplies remained unchanged. Propylene non-fuel-use stocks represented 3.7% of total inventories, up from 3.1% the previous week.

Propane production for the week was at 1.672 MMbbld, just higher than a week earlier but up about 0.2 MMbbld from the prior year. East Coast production was at 0.167 MMbbld, the Midwest 0.354 MMbbld, and the Gulf Coast 0.951 MMbbld. Although there was little variation week over week, Midwest and Gulf Coast production rose minimally, while the East Coast was virtually unchanged. For the year, all three regions chipped in roughly equally to make up the 0.2 MMbbld annual improvement.

Propane imports to the nation were at a paltry 0.074 MMbbld, nearly unchanged from a week earlier and down slightly from last year. The East Coast received 0.032 MMbbld and the Midwest 0.025 MMbbld. U.S. propane demand for the week was at 1.340 MMbbld, higher by nearly 0.17 MMbbld week over week but 0.3 MMbbld under a year ago.