San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-19
Cuts Continue as Refiners
Seek to Rid Accum-
mulated Stocks.
FUEL OIL IS FIR M
Kerosene D emandMod
While Natural Case
line Weak.


oil markets best seller is still in
stagnant condition while refiners are
making frantic efforts TO clear up ac-
cumulated stocks. Otherwise gasoline
is still clogging the market and some
selling at concessions and below the
market is only making things more
complicated. There seems to be little
or no general increase in the move
ment of refined oils as compared with
the past week. Fuel oil movement has
increased but the decline in gasoline
transportation has made little change
, in the general situation.
Officials of larger refineries gen
erally admit that more gasoline is be-
ing consumed this summer than ever
before but the enormous output
through improvement OF cracking pro-
cesses at the plants has been too great
to be absorbed in few months time,
they say. Most of the larger plants
in Oklahoma, including the Marland,
Cosden, Indiahoma, and others of like
size, are shut down for about two
weeks and appear to be faithfully
CARRYING out their agreement a large
number including the smaller plants
are still running and some of these
are blamed for the tendency to under
sell the market and clear up what
stocks they can. On the whole refin-
ers classed as authorities believe that
with good weather this fall as last
wear that stocks will be reduced to
small figure before the seasonal de-
cline in gasoline.
Fuel Oil Firm.
The exceptional firmness OF fuel OIL
and the anxiousness of many jobbers
TO stock up on this commodity IS
somewhat of a surprise to Mid-Conti-
nent refiners. Last year fuel oil was
down TO GO cents a barrel with few
takers while at this time the price is
around 80 cents with no signs of
weakening. This season with every
effort being exerted to move gasoline
and with little attention given to fuel
oil the latter is faring much better
than the former. Southern Oklahoma
and North Texas plants appear TO be
concentrating on this product at TINS
time.
Considerable trading in new navy
gasoline including some undersellng
by smaller refineries has weakened the
general price structure. 1t is report
ed that some has been sold for as low
as 9 cents and under on account OF
this concession. Practically all gaso-
line thus sold is classed as distressed
fuel. and is being sold at a loss to
both the refiner and ditributor. 1t is
pointed out that several refiners are
in better shape to sell at a loss than
TO store it indefinitely.
Natural Gasoline Weak.
Natural gasoline is weak and efforts
are being made by the Association OF
Natural Gasoline Manufacturers to de-
termine a survey of the situation
which may reduce the congestion in
one section and supply the needs OF
another. So far the situation has
shown that the supply and demand for
natural gasoline are on a more equal
lied basis tan in the case of straight
run gasoline. a blended motor fuel is
being sold from the gasoline plant d.
rect and in many instances is said TO
be as good as the ordinary grade. Cur
tailment of runs in several large re-
fineries has hit the natural gasoline
trade rather hard but the association
is confident that the situation will
right itself in due time. The associa-
ton has started an educational cam
paign to educate jobbers of the adj
vantages of natural gasoline in blend
ing motor fuels as compared with the
ordinary straight run product.
Kerosene Demand Moderate.
Other products are slightly below
par but holding their own for this
time of year. Kerosene is bringing
from 8 IL to 4 cents with only u
moderate demand. Gas oil is rather
plentiful and promises to remain so
since many plants will re-run their
accumulated stocks. Prices remain
stationary at around 2 IL to 8 cents
with fairly good demand.
High gravity gasoline principally
the aviation grade is finding a good
export market and Union Petroleum
Company, large shippers from the
Mid-Continent have resumed trainloat
shipments to its terminals at West
wego. La.
Principal refined oil commodities
were quoted at following prices BY
Tulsa refineries T. o. b. Group 3 terri
tory the latter part of the week:
Easolina-