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Plan No w f o r Win t er's W or s t Challeng es
Plan Now for Winter's Worst Challenges

ven as the nation contends with searing heat- using PERC’s Grain Drying Demand Models. The online
waves of historical proportions, summer will tool provides real-time data to show how current corn
soon turn to fall and bring chilly November moisture levels compare to past years, helping you
Eblasts. That means now is the time to prepare predict the propane needs for farmers in your area.
for the hectic winter heating season ahead. Last winter was relatively free of supply dis-
The arrival of our first El Niño weather system ruptions. But given the uncertainties of pipeline, rail
since 2019 is likely to impact weather patterns in the and truck distribution during a typical winter, market-
late fall and winter, according to the National Ocean- ers are advised to plan for both the expected and un-
ic and Atmospheric Administration, a division of the expected. Arrange both a primary and backup supplier.
National Weather Service. Identify multiple supply points in case one is somehow
The northern parts of the U.S. can expect compromised.
to see drier and warmer conditions that can cause Given the additional challenges of indus-
drought and wildfires, while the Southern U.S. and try-wide driver shortages – and the new emergency
Gulf Coast regions can see wetter conditions that may driver training requirements that extend the time it
result in flooding. El Niño can suppress hurricane activ- takes to onboard new hires – early fills of customer
ity in the Atlantic Ocean but increase the likelihood of tanks are more critical than ever. Fill tertiary storage
hurricanes in the Pacific Basin. early and often while pipeline capacity is available and
Early forecasts are projecting above-average demand is calm. Remember, pipeline infrastructure is
temperatures in the West and Northwest, but below not intended to be the sole source of supply during
average across the Central and Eastern regions, the peak demand.
Great Lakes, and the Ohio Valley. Above-average snow- Now is the time to communicate with cus-
fall and likelihood of blizzards are forecast across the tomers about the best early fill strategies. Let them
East and Northeast. know how and when to contact you using PERC’s free,

As a whole, industry supply is well positioned downloadable outreach materials on propane.com.■
going into the crop drying season and the winter draw.
That should help marketers assess storage and firm
up supply contracts that provide maximum flexibility
against the unknown.

Domestic propane stock builds are well above
the five-year average. Projected storage carries until at
least the first quarter of 2024 likewise appear strong.
The heightened pace of U.S. exports is expected to
remain strong into the winter months. View PERC's Winter Prep Outreach Collection

Meanwhile, USDA crop report numbers are up The Winter Prep Outreach Collection has customizable
6% from 2022 levels, the third-highest planted acre- materials for marketers to promote winter preparation.
age in the United States since 1944. Despite the large The collection includes:
amount of corn acres planted, moderate to severe • brochures
drought conditions across much of the country contin- • bill stuffers
ue to impact corn development. Should the weather • newspaper ad templates
normalize, we could see a large crop harvest. • print ads
Propane marketers can effectively estimate • radio ads
local dryer demand as the harvest season approaches • social media post

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