320 likes | 535 Vues
Energy Costs and Asphalt. By Nasreen Tasker Editor, Argus Asphalt Report. Outline. Factors that impact supply/demand fundamentals for asphalt Asphalt pricing methods Crude and asphalt graphs Economics and sustainability Changes occurring in the market Impact on the future.
E N D
Energy Costs and Asphalt By Nasreen Tasker Editor, Argus Asphalt Report
Outline • Factors that impact supply/demand fundamentals for asphalt • Asphalt pricing methods • Crude and asphalt graphs • Economics and sustainability • Changes occurring in the market • Impact on the future
A unique product • Supply/demand fundamentals affected by several variables • Variables in turn affect asphalt prices
Factors impacting demand for asphalt • Government road spending • Economy • Private demand growth • Housing development • Natural disasters
Factors impacting supply of asphalt • Refinery economics for asphalt • Alternative economics • HSFO and coker economics • Crude oil prices and light-heavy crude price spreads • Transportation options and availability • Adoption of new grades • Multiple grades in one market
Asphalt pricing methods • Wholesale Prices • Spot deals • Term deals • Winter-fill deals
Asphalt Pricing Methods • Retail Pricing • Price date-of-shipment • Fixed monthly prices • Fixed prices for a period of time • Indexed pricing • Not-to-exceed pricing
Asphalt prices can be disconnected from the international crude market • Treated as a byproduct by integrated refiners • Have to move out inventory • Retail pricing can be slow to respond • Weak demand
Changing business environment • Integrated refiners • Have to justify asphalt as a business unit • Alternative is upgrading • Specialized asphalt refiners • Not able to breakeven
Difficulty in pricing asphalt • Factors affecting supply/demand are unpredictable • No futures market • Difficult to hedge • Historical resistance to changing pricing techniques • Change has begun
Reduction in asphalt production Coker installations Things to watch in the future
Things to watch in the future (2) • Asphalt grades • Growing number of grades in an individual market • More complex grades being adopted • Asphalt demand will vary • Global demand falls • Asian demand relatively strong • US demand weak • Higher asphalt prices • Set country budgets
Net impact on asphalt market • Regional imbalances in asphalt supply/demand fundamentals • New patterns of trade • Asphalt viewed as a specialty product, rather than as a commodity • Reflected in asphalt prices • More price sensitivity to refinery shutdowns • Volatility replaces historical price consistency • Feast or famine
In the past Price date-of-shipment Fixed monthly prices Fixed prices for a period of time Indexed pricing Not-to-exceed pricing Future Price date-of-shipment Fixed monthly prices Fixed prices for a period of time Indexed pricing Not-to-exceed pricing Asphalt Pricing MethodsRetail pricing
Current Spot deals Term deals Winter-fill deals Future Spot deals Term deals Longer term deals are risky Winter-fill deals Fewer sources Asphalt pricing methodsWholesale Prices
Change is here • Rate and timing of change will differ for various regions • Potential domino effect • No turning back • Market participants need to be prepared • Develop relationships • Stay informed