Slide 10 of 15
Notes:
Stocks are a barometer for judging whether the market is tight or loose.
Stocks are the immediately available supply to satisfy demand. When they are low and dropping sharply, especially during the high demand season, wholesale buyers may begin to worry about short-term supply availability and bid prices up.
Our latest data show U.S. inventories of propane at 44.1 MMB, 13 percent lower than last year at this time. EIA is projecting stocks to reach approximately 57 MMB at the start of the heating season.
March through September is the stock building season (September is usually when stocks peak). Stocks normally build around 34 million barrels. At the US level stocks have been building at 6.5 % above the five year average.
US stocks are the lowest since 1996.
