Industry / Media / Research Information
This brief list of links may be able to help answer many ordinary questions about the propane industry, or may at the very least give those looking for more information a good starting point. For other questions about NPGA or the propane industry, e-mail or call us.
Alternative- or propane-fueled vehicles
Until Feb. 2005, the Propane Vehicle Council was the source to go to if you are looking for information about U.S. government regulations or taxation issues dealing with alternative fueled vehicles using propane as their primary power source. In early 2005, PVC was reformed into the Propane Education & Research Council's (PERC) Engine Fuel Coordinating Committee (EFCC), to better serve the industry and this specialized segment of it. You can contact the EFCC at 202-452-8975 for more information about American propane-fueled vehicles.
(In other parts of the world, the propane used to power vehicles is sometimes known as autogas. The Global Autogas Industry Network is an international association involved in autogas industry issues.)
A good place to look for information about all types of alternative fueled vehicles is found on the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory site.
Alternatively, DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has much consumer information about vehicles powered by propane, LPG vehicle conversions, vehicle buyer's guides, state-by-state alt fuel usage tax incentive charts, and fact sheets on LPG.
Appliance ratings
The consumer section of the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association's Web site has the "Consumers' Directory of Certified Efficiency Ratings for Heating and Water Heating Equipment" available for public use.
Barbeque / grilling statistics
98% of gas-grills in the marketplace are propane. More than two-thirds of all grills shipped are fueled by propane, the exceptional energy. The D.C.-based Hearth, Patio & Barbeque Association keeps track of many barbeque grill statistics.
Government information sources
Any search for information about propane should include a stop at the DOE Energy Information Administration (EIA) pages on propane. There is an amazing amount of information about propane, petroleum, and the nation's energy resources at EIA, the U.S. government energy statistical and information office.
Propane-specific information at EIA includes heating degree day information, pricing explanations, and monthly energy outlooks. EIA's "This Week in Petroleum" tallys up each week's current national and regional propane supply situation.
Industry forecasts
For a look at the future of the industry, check the industry trade publications listed below as well as the Purvin & Gertz and Propane Resources LLC sites. PERC is funding its Market Metrics Initiative in 2004 and periodically issues its Issues and Trends reports on the industry.
Industry research & development projects
Most industry R&D projects are funded by PERC. The industry is very interested in new applications and innovative, environmentally friendly uses of our fine fuel. A list of online fact sheets about recent industry R&D projects can be found here.
Industry trade publications
The domestic U.S. propane industry is served by two excellent trade publications.
LP-Gas Magazine - A monthly publication, issued since 1937. The LP-Gas Web site has their annual "Top 50 Retailers" ranking of largest industry members. The site has other useful consumer and business information, such as their "2006 State of the Industry" report. Back issues available online from January 2001 to present.
Butane-Propane News - A monthly publication, issued since 1939. BPN also publishes the Weekly Propane Newsletter, which contains current wholesale propane prices (this is a leading industry source for pricing information). The BPN Web site also features current propane-industry news. Back issues available online from January 2001 to present.
The Argus Media monthly International LPG Report and twice-monthly LPG World report on the world LPG situation. Their daily NLG Americas report focuses on the north and south American hemisphere LPG market.
All the trade publications require some kind of subscriber code to access many parts of their site.
Industry manufacturer's guides
If you are in the industry and are looking for manufacturers of LP-gas or propane equipment, whether it be for storage tanks, bobtail trucks, regulators, hoses, electrical vaporizers, or any of the thousands of pieces of equipment needed to run a successful propane business, the best on-line industry purchasing guide is found in LP-Gas Magazine's bi-annual "Buyer's Guide."
The guide, last published in April 2007, lists over 2,400 manufacturers of industry equipment. It is also available as a paper publication for a price, please contact the magazine for availability.
Industry marketing resources
Check out the Propane Education and Research Council's (PERC) Web resource site for the industry's current U.S. media marketing campaign, Propane Guys. Our sister organization's site has the latest propane television commercials (viewable online), downloadable marketing print material, grant information, reports, industry presentations, ad kit materials, and much more.
Industry sales statistics
The best source of U.S. propane industry sales statistics is the annual Sales of Natural Gas Liquids and Liquefied Refinery Gases publication created and distributed by the American Petroleum Institute (API). This publication reports estimated sales of natural gas liquids, including propane, but is not a consumption statistical product. The total volumes are comparative to those published by EIA in their Petroleum Supply Annual Report. The state volumes are estimated by API based on industry survey reponses, usually compiled in early May of each year. Retail end uses--such as residential or agricultural sales--are also broken down by state.
Jointly sponsored by NPGA, PERC, Gas Processors Association, and API, the most recent Sales of Natural Gas Liquids statistics available is from 2005 sales statistics (released March 2007) and can be obtained from API.
Industry economic statistics
In February 2005, NPGA and PERC released a study that details for the first time the enormous contribution the modern American propane industry delivers to the U.S. economy and job market. The study breaks down propane's total economic value by national and state parameters. It also defines industry employment statistics. The entire report can be downloaded here.
Pricing of propane by U.S. state / region
During the winter heating months (October through March), EIA is the best publicly available source on the Web for current U.S. propane prices. Another EIA winter heating price chart is found here. EIA's monthly "Short Term Energy Outlook" provides through "Table 5d" a good synopsis of current propane prices throughout the year. Older STEOs are archived on the current month STEO Webpage for those who seek historical pricing statistics.
Reporters in search of propane price information may also find it useful to contact the trade publications above for prices, as NPGA does not in any form offer comments on propane prices. The association does not track propane prices other than through EIA or BPN sources, so it is unable to offer independent comments about where prices have been or where they are going.
The NPGA-affiliated state associations may also be able to provide information about specific state situations. Butane-Propane News (described above) offers pricing information to their subscribers, who tend to be industry professionals who use this exclusive information to run their businesses.
World propane statistics
The World LP-Gas Association has many resources which give an overview of the world LP-gas/propane outlook. Many international usage statistics can be found here.
If you are looking for non-U.S. company locations, overseas LPG filling stations, or national usage statistics or country-specific price information, this German LPG company has an excellent link page to European, Asiatic, Oceanic, and Americas LP-gas associations and companies.
