Canadian Propane and Butane Inventories Experience Seasonal Declines in November

Data reported by the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) for Canada’s propane inventories at the end of November place them in the middle of the five-year range. Stocks in Western Canada (left hand chart in top figure below) were reported at 6.41 MMb, a seasonal decline of 0.74 MMb versus October and 0.05 MMb below the five-year average. Those in Eastern Canada (right hand chart) are pegged at 3.71 MMb, a decrease of 0.58 MMb versus October and 0.40 MMb below the five-year range. Since it is often used as a heating fuel in colder months, average temperatures in eastern Canada in November led to a more typical seasonal decline and coming after one of the warmest Octobers since 1900. Temperatures in Western Canada were much above average in November, but stocks still fell as propane was railed for export to terminals in British Columbia and Washinton state or to the Midwest.