Over the past few years, normal butane imports into PADD 5 from Canada have doubled at their winter peak. Back in the winters of 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, PADD 5 Canadian butane imports peaked at around 20 Mb/d. Every winter since, normal butane imports have surpassed the previous year by at least 5 Mb/d (see chart below).
Featured Articles
- Blog
I Need More – California Refinery Closures, Persian Gulf Issues Strain PADD 5 Product Supply
The West Coast, particularly California, has been the U.S. region hardest hit by the war with Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, particularly regarding the Golden State’s ability to obtain refined product imports. Today, we discuss the impact of the closure.
- Blog
How’s It Going to Be – How a Prolonged Conflict with Iran Could Disrupt U.S. Gasoline, Jet and Diesel Markets
The U.S. is seeing softer domestic demand for traditional fuels, but pockets of the country remain highly dependent on imported gasoline, jet fuel and diesel. Today, we’ll zero in on which PADDs are at the highest risk for shortages and price spikes if the Iran war drags on for an extended period.
- Blog
A Fragile Thing – Fire at Chevron’s El Segundo Refinery Shows Vulnerability of California Refining Sector
A fire swept through Chevron’s El Segundo, CA, refinery on October 2, upsetting production of gasoline, jet fuel and diesel. The incident raised fresh concerns about higher prices and highlighted the fragility of the state’s refining network, already challenged by years of weak margins, rising regulatory compliance costs and softening gasoline demand. In today’s RBN blog, we discuss the immediate impact of the fire and the long-term outlook for California’s refining sector.
