US propane and propylene stocks are 31% under were they stood in 2012 on increasing exports, cold weather and changing infrastructure, Energy Information Administration data released Friday showed. The stocks fell 2.51 million barrels to 47.44 million barrels for the week ended December 20 (See story, 1627 GMT). Midcontinent stocks, for which Conway, Kansas, is the price marker, are down 35.9% from last year at 15.14 million barrels. Meanwhile, Gulf Coast stocks are down 31% and currently stand at 25.88 million barrels. Assessments at Mont Belvieu, Texas, the NGL hub of the US, are representative of the Gulf Coast supply and demand fundamentals. Prices at Conway have surged 74.3% over the past year while Mont Belvieu prices have climbed 44%. Conway was marked at $1.4685/gal Friday while Mont Belvieu propane was trading at $1.28/gal. Increasing export capacity has been the strongest pulling factor on […]