US ethane exports set record high in April: Correction

Corrects butane inventories in seventh paragraph of 30 June story.

US ethane exports rose to a record in April, supported by expanded export infrastructure, surpassing the high set in the prior month.

Ethane exports rose to an average of 406,000 b/d in April, a 9pc increase from 372,000 b/d in March and a 45pc increase from 223,000 b/d exported in April 2020, according to monthly data released today by the Energy Information Administration. India was the top destination for US ethane in April, receiving 171,000 b/d.

Energy Transfer's 180,000 b/d Orbit ethane export terminal in Nederland, Texas, came on line at the beginning of the year. The facility is the third ethane export terminal in the country.

US field production of ethane also rose to a record high in April as rising prices increased the profitability of recovering it from the natural gas stream. More than 2.2mn b/d of ethane were produced in April, an 11pc increase from the 1.98mn b/d produced in March and a 24pc increase from the 1.7mn b/d produced in April 2020.

Ethane inventories rose to 69.8mn bl in April, up from 68.2mn bl in March and from 49.1mn bl in April 2020.

US butane field production increased in April to 498,000 b/d, up by 5,000 b/d from March and 6,000 b/d higher than in April 2020. Rising production could help counter market tightness that has led to a series of price increases.

Butane inventories increased in April by 5.5mn bl to 31.1mn bl, which also may help alleviate some pressure in the market. However, compared to April 2020, inventories were 6.7mn bl lower.

US butane exports increased as well, rising to 472,000 b/d, the highest so far in 2021, up from 437,000 b/d in March. Indonesia and South Korea had the month's largest share of US butane exports, receiving 50,000 b/d and 56,000 b/d, respectively.

By Marialuisa Rincon and Ethan Stafford