OREANDA-NEWS. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is expected to report a 2.25mn bl build in propane inventories for the week ended 22 May, according to the average of an Argus survey.

The market participants surveyed provided a wide range of estimated builds, from 1.7mn bl up to 3mn bl, but most predictions either clustered at the high-end, near 2.8mn bl, or at the low-end at 1.7-1.8mn bl.

Opinions varied as to how last week's heavy rainfall on the Gulf coast and colder temperatures in the midcontinent will affect the data estimates.

Last week, the EIA reported a large 2.583mn bl build, which brought nationwide stocks to 71.042mn bl. PADD III was responsible for the bulk of the build, with inventories growing 2.187mn bl over the course of the week ended 15 May. Exports had been steady, but did little to counter the influx of barrels coming from the midcontinent due to an open arbitrage.

During the week ended 22 May, the arbitrage between PADD II and PADD III narrowed, but spreads trading heightened nonetheless amid speculation that heavy rainfall would limit the addition of new storage capacity at the Mont Belvieu, Texas, hub.

Spot propane prices at Mont Belvieu, Texas, maintained their weakness on Wednesday. LST propane started the session sold at 38?/USG, 3? below the previous day's highest trade, and fell to 37.75?/USG, but not before hitting a morning low of 37?/USG.

EPC propane started the session sold at 33?/USG and firmed to 33.75?/USG in intraday trade, but not before hitting a low of 32?/USG.

Conway, Kansas, propane prices were weaker on Wednesday, falling to a low of 33?/USG early in the session in heavy trading. The price rebounded to 34.25?/USG by the afternoon as liquidity thinned.