US LPG exports dropped in January

OREANDA-NEWS. March 31, 2015. US LPG exports declined by 25,000 b/d in January to 621,000 b/d, while overall exports of NGLs and LPG totaled 809,000 b/d, a decline of 10,000 b/d month-on-month.

Propane exports were hit the hardest in January as volumes shed 29,000 b/d to reach 493,000 b/d, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) said today. Butane exports rose slightly by 2,000 b/d to total 55,000 b/d, while isobutane exports were reported for the first time since December 1988 at 5,000 b/d. Isobutane exports were previously included in the butane export figures by the EIA.

Exports of pentanes plus, or natural gasoline, firmed by 15,000 b/d to 188,000 b/d in January. Ethane exports dropped 3,000 b/d to 67,000 b/d.

North America continued to stand as the strongest importer of US LPG. Mexico overtook Canada as the top consumer as it imported a record-high 3.98mn bl in January, up 1.1mn bl from December. Canadian imports also rose slightly as they firmed to 2.67mn bl.

Central America and the Caribbean was the second-largest importing region as a total of 3.92mn bl sailed into the region. Aruba and the Dominican Republic brought in 606,000 bl and 550,000 bl, respectively, while 1.80mn bl were reported sailing to Panama.

European imports continued to grow from the prior month as they firmed to 3.39mn bl, up from the prior month's level of 2.9mn bl. The Netherlands brought in 1.12mn bl while the United Kingdom absorbed 1.09mn bl. Imports into France rose by 34,000 bl to 611,000 bl, while a total of 577,000 bl were reported imported by Greece. The Mediterranean nation has not reported US imports since 2009.

Asian imports from the US were stronger than those seen into South America in January. Japan and China brought in a combined 2.23mn bl, while 1.92mn bl of US LPG was exported into South America.

Exports to Africa totaled 590,000 bl in January.