HOUSTON: US exports of MTBE in February retreated from the eight-month high set in January as demand from Mexico scaled back significantly, according to US Energy Information Administration data. Although slightly lower month on month, the total was the highest for a February since 2013. US MTBE exports in February totaled 1.130 million barrels, up 21.5% from 930,000 barrels in February 2016, but 20% lower than the 1.418 million barrels imported in January, the EIA data showed.
The total was the highest in the month of February since exports of 1.770 million barrels in February 2013. Mexico, typically the largest importer of US material, imported 596,000 barrels, less than the 1.197 million barrels imported in January — the highest level since at least 2004, the data show.
