Mont Belvieu Ethane Hits 17-Month High

Natural gas liquids (NGLs) prices were largely down this week at both Conway and Mont Belvieu with only ethane and propane prices improving at either hub.

Following a 5% increase, the Conway ethane price of US70¢ was just shy of its 17-month high, which was achieved the second week of this year when it was slightly higher. Mont Belvieu ethane performed even better as it rose 3% to 80¢, its highest price in Texas since it was 95¢ the week of Sept. 3, 2008.

Propane rose 1% to $1.37 at Conway, the highest price at the hub since the week of Dec. 30, 2009-Jan. 5, 2010, when it was $1.40. The Mont Belvieu price rose slightly to $1.36, the highest price at the hub since the second week of January when the price was $1.38.

The biggest drop in price at either hub was for Conway iso-butane, which fell 7% to $1.74, as trading for the NGL in Kansas remained very lean. Mont Belvieu iso-butane was down 4% to $1.64, which was the lowest price at the hub since the week of Dec. 22, 2009, when the price was $1.56.

Butane was down 4% to $1.47 at Mont Belvieu. Like iso-butane, this was the lowest price at the hub since the week of Dec. 22, 2009, when it was $1.46. The Conway price dropped 2% to $1.41, which was the lowest price at the hub since the week of Nov. 11, when the price was $1.32.

The price of C5+was down 1% at both hubs. This brought the Mont Belvieu price to $1.79, the lowest price at Texas this year. The Conway price of $1.75 was also the lowest price at the hub this year. – Frank Nieto