Chic wrote: "Is it valid to assume prices have gone up do to pressure on demand not cost build up reasons?"
No. (Based on the best info I have) The explanation I received from a representative of a chemical supply company is consistent with the info at a site James Phelps provided: http://www.purchasing.com/article/CA6389243.html For various reasons there was an unexpected drop in methanol production. The drop in supply coupled with continued demand -----> price increase. This is similar to the helium shortage (almost thwarted the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade) due to two of the major producers going "off line" at the same time ..... one unexpectedly; the other to due routine yearly maintenance. The methanol price should return to a more reasonable level as production resumes. Production is supposedly coming back. Before the price drops, reduced reserves will have to be replenished. It would be interesting to plot monthly prices for methanol over the past few years ..... see if there are months/seasons when the price is low or high. The representative I talked to said that the price he pays (northeastern US) goes up a bit during our winter months due to increased demand for windshield washed fluid that is winterized w. methanol. Those of us who have the luxury of safe storage space might consider buying an extra barrel or two when the price is low. Tom ----- Original Message ----- From: FRANCISCO To: biofuel@sustainablelists.org Sent: Thursday, November 23, 2006 9:22 AM Subject: Re: [Biofuel] Methanol Price Increase? I assume the metanol demand world wide is increasing as biofuels production are increasing sharply. Is it valid to assume prices have gone up do to pressure on demand not cost build up reasons? VEry best Chic VAN DER SLUYS, WILLIAM wrote: It is my understanding that most of the methanol available in the US is produced from ethylene (petroleum). I'm not surprising that methanol prices have gone up, but, I am surprised it took so long for them to do so. They probably will come back down in the near future since oil prices have moderated. The other way to make methanol is from wood, by way of pyrolysis (destructive heating which also produces charcoal) but this is not commonly done since it is more difficult and costly. ----- Original Message ----- From: Thomas Kelly [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To: biofuel [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Biofuel] Methanol Price Increase? Hello All, Did I miss the news? Has there been a significant increase in the price of methanol recently? I just got the bill for a delivery (two 55gal barrels). Previous price ( July): $2.60 USD/gallon; current bill: $3.54 USD/ gallon .... 35% increase in a few months? I'll call my supplier in a little while ... maybe it's just a billing mistake. I am just hoping someone has some info. Thanks, Tom _______________________________________________ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
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