US ethane consumption rose in 2Q

Ethane consumption by US ethylene crackers rose by 35,795 b/d during the second quarter on ongoing demand for the feedstock after Williams' Geismar, Louisiana, plant came back online in the first quarter.

Quarterly ethane consumption stood at 1.113mn b/d, according to the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufactures (AFPM).

Williams' Geismar plant came online near the end of the first quarter and ramped up during the second quarter.

Similar to recent quarters, ethane consumption rose despite holding third place as most favorable feedstock based on ethylene margins.

At the start of August, ethane stood at 20.06¢/lb, while butane was in the lead at 24.52¢/lb and propane at 23.43¢/lb. At the end of June, ethane's margins stood at 21.87¢/lb and butane and propane at 31.47¢/lb and 32.17¢/lb, respectively.

Propane consumption by ethylene crackers fell by 786 b/d to total 350,160 b/d, and butane consumption rose by 40,460 b/d to 181,837 b/d.

at/dcb

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