Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (EPD) Earnings Call Transcript & Summary
August 1, 2023
Earnings Call Speaker Segments
Operator
operatorGood day, and thank you for standing by. Welcome to the Enterprise Products Partners L.P. Second Quarter 2023 Earnings Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] Please be advised that this conference is being recorded. I would now like to hand the conference over to Randy Burkhalter, Vice President of Investor Relations. Please go ahead.
John Burkhalter
executiveThank you, Norma, and good morning, everyone. And welcome to the Enterprise Products conference call today to discuss second quarter earnings. Our speakers today will be Co-Chief Executive Officers of Enterprise's General Partner, Jim Teague and Randy Fowler. Other members of our senior management team are also in attendance for the call. During this call, we will make forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 based on the beliefs of the company as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Enterprise's management team. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Please refer to our latest filings with the SEC for a list of factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements that made during the call today. And so with that, I'll turn it over to Jim.
A. Teague
executiveThank you, Randy. Today, we reported adjusted EBITDA of $2.2 billion for the second quarter of '23 compared to 2.4% for the second quarter of '22 and 2.3% for the first quarter of 2013. We generated $1.7 billion of DCF providing 1.6x coverage. Enterprise retained $639 million of DCF in the second quarter, and we've retained $1.5 billion year-to-date. We had resilient financial results despite the impact of lower prices for crude, natural gas, NGLs and petrochemicals. Our profits were negatively impacted by weaker processing margins for the first part of the year. Our petrochemical services segment continued to perform in spite of the low price and lower margin environment. During the quarter, we established 6 operational records, including our natural gas pipeline volumes, NGL fractionation volumes and 11.9 million barrels of oil equivalent of total pipeline volumes. We're also extremely proud of the fact that with the increase in our distribution last quarter, we crossed the threshold of 25 consecutive years of distribution growth literally unheard of in the midstream industry. This is truly an exceptional milestone across all industries and most importantly, a real tribute to the core principles laid out from our very beginnings that Randy continues to prioritize today. Moving to growth capital. We started the second quarter with $6.1 billion of major growth projects under construction. We have since completed construction on 4 major growth projects that will provide new sources of cash, and we have an additional $4.1 billion under construction, completed major projects during the second quarter in early July include a 400 million cubic foot a day expansion of the Haynesville extension of the Acadian natural gas pipeline system, which is sold out. Our cryogenic natural gas processing plant, which is our sixth processing plant in the Midland Basin, which is sold out. Our 19th NGL fractionator, which is sold out and our PD2 plant in Chambers County, which is sold out and ramping up currently between 65% and 70% and climbing. The 3 remaining natural gas processing plants we have under construction in the Permian Basin, will go into service in late '23 and early '24, one in Midland and 1 in Delaware. In the first phase of the Texas Western Products pipeline will be put into service in December. When we complete the next 3 Permian plants, we'll have 16 processing plants in the Permian with the capability to process 3.8 Bcf a day of natural gas and extract more than 520,000 barrels a day of NGLs, all distant for additional value-added services in our Gulf Coast NGL systems. Meanwhile, downstream of the Permian, we have major expansions underway for ethane, ethylene, polymer gate propylene and LPG, expanding and upgrading our export capacity at the Ship Channel at Morgan's Point and at Beaumont. Our new export projects are designed with an emphasis on flexibility and reliability centered around highly integrated footprint with multi-product capabilities. Even as a world works its way through a significant petrochemical downturn. U.S. NGLs and opens continue to get a lot of attention from petrochemicals focused on feedstock and diversity and advantaged prices. In addition to multiple long-term export contracts we recently signed, we are also in discussions with counterparties from several countries for substantial amounts of additional natural gas liquids and olefin exports. This level of customer interest is what supports further expansion of our export capabilities. A wide gas to crude spread gives the petrochemical industry a feedstock advantage that is proving both durable and permanent. As Randy has heard me say a million times, I grew up in that business, and I've lived through more than a few cycles. Only the strong prosper through times like these and U.S. NGL feedstocks sourced from shale oil and gas are again proving their growing importance. The durability of U.S. shales is evident in ever-increasing U.S. exports of crude, natural gas, natural gas liquids and in exports of petrochemicals in various forms. In July, Enterprise crude oil exports will exceed a record 30 million barrels. Oil and gas has faced commodity price headwinds, especially compared to the premiums of last year when crude averaged over $100 a barrel during the first 6 months of 2022. We see no reason that crude should have been trading at the low levels of the last few months. In early June, OPEC+ announced they were extending their reductions into 2024. On top of that, the Saudis announced that they would unilaterally cut an additional 1 million barrels a day of production in July and August with an option to extend these cuts as needed. Meanwhile, waterborne data confirms that Russia's exports are coming down. Inventories of crude and refined products both in the U.S. and globally remain very low, while OPEC+ continues to demonstrate they are committed to price stability. Even though industrial demand continues to lag, consumer demand is strong, especially in developed nations. Crude oil supply/demand fundamentals continue to indicate that we are in store for much tighter balances for the remainder of the year and in 2024. And with that, I'll turn it over to Randy.
W. Fowler
executiveThank you, Jim, and good morning, everyone. Starting with the income statement. Net income attributable to common unitholders for the second quarter of 2023 was $1.3 billion or $0.57 per common unit on a fully diluted basis. This compares to $1.4 billion or $0.64 per common unit for the second quarter of last year. Adjusted cash flow from operations or we call it adjusted CFFO, which is cash flow from operating activities before changes in working capital was $1.9 billion for the second quarter of this year compared to $2.1 billion for the second quarter of 2022. As Jim mentioned, 2023 marks our 25th consecutive year of distribution growth. We declared a distribution of $0.50 per common unit for the second quarter of 2023, which is a 5.3% increase over the distribution declared for the second quarter of last year and a 2% increase over the distribution that we declared last quarter. This distribution will be paid August 14 to common holders of record as of close of business July 31. In the second quarter, we purchased 2.9 million common units for the quarter at a total cost of $75 million. For the first half of the year, unit purchases totaled approximately 3.6 million common units for a total purchase price of approximately $92 million. Inclusive of these purchases, we have now utilized 41% of the authorized $2 billion buyback program. In addition, our distribution reinvestment plan and our employee unit purchase plan purchased an approximately 2 million common units on the open market for a total purchase price of approximately $51 million, and that was also during the second quarter. For the 12 months ending June 30, 2023, Enterprise paid out approximately $4.2 billion in distributions to limited partners. These distributions, combined with $307 million in buybacks for this period result in Enterprise having a payout ratio of adjusted cash flow from operations of 57% and a ratio of payout for adjusted free cash flow of 86%. Total capital investments in the second quarter of 2023 were $784 million which included $683 million for growth capital projects and $101 million of sustaining capital expenditures. As Jim noted, we have $4.1 billion of major growth projects under construction, $1.1 billion of which are expected to begin service in the remainder of 2023. We continue to expect our capital expenditures for 2023 will be in the range of $2.4 billion to $2.8 billion, depending on any incremental system expansions and timing. We continue to expect sustaining capital expenditures for 2023 will be approximately $400 million. Turning to capitalization. Our total debt principal outstanding was approximately $28.9 billion as of June 30. Assuming the final maturity date for our hybrids, the weighted average life of our debt portfolio was 20 years. Our weighted average cost of debt is 4.6% and at June 30, approximately 97% of our debt was fixed rate. Our consolidated liquidity at quarter end was approximately $4 billion, and that includes both availability under our credit facilities and unrestricted cash. For the 12 months ended June 30, 2023, our adjusted EBITDA was $9.1 billion. This compares to $8.8 billion for the trailing 12 months ending June 30, 2022. We ended the quarter with a consolidated leverage ratio of 3.0x on a net basis after adjusting debt for the partial equity treatment of our hybrid debt and reduced by the partnership's unrestricted cash on hand. As a reminder, our leverage target remains 3x plus or minus 0.25. So if you would 2.75 to 3.25x, so we're right in the middle of that range. And with that, Randy, I think we can open it up for questions.
John Burkhalter
executiveOkay. Thank you, Randy. Norma, we're ready to open it up to questions from our listeners. And I would like to remind our listeners to restrict your questions, please, to the one question and one follow-up question. And I'll take you formed you can head and take you from there, Norma.
Operator
operator[Operator Instructions] Our first question comes from the line of Theresa Chen with Barclays.
Theresa Chen
analystI'd love to get your sense on the third quarter outlook and beyond, just given the recent action we saw in NGL pricing in ethane in particular. Would you be able to comment on this? And will you expect pricing to do as the quarter progresses? And how does this split with your ability to earn outsized margins along your integrated NGL value chain as well as potentially treat the $9.3 billion won basis?
A. Teague
executiveYes, this is Jim. I think we feel pretty constructive on the second half of the year. If we look at our processing margins, Natalie, they're better than they've been moving up.
Natalie Gayden
executiveThat’s right.
A. Teague
executiveIn terms of outsized spreads, my experience is, you can't predict them, but they're always there and I think we might see more opportunity in the second half than we have seen in the first half.
Theresa Chen
analystAnd then on the petchem front, can you just comment on what you're seeing as far as demand goes and the ramp-up of PDH utilization and/or the underutilization on the ethylene production side.
Christian Nelly
executiveYes, Theresa, this is Chris Dana. On the petchem side, overall demand, nondurables, we're seeing healthy exports, whether it's in the form of pellets or whether it's in the form of ethylene across our dock, which remains full. On the durable side, we've seen numbers increasing over the last 4 months, but it really hasn't translated to higher overall demand. So as we talk to customers, what originally was going to be a strong second half is probably pushed out maybe 6 months or so. And then on the MTBE side, it's really a business that's driven by normal RBOB and octane. That remains strong. So there was a lot in your question. PDH, it's ramping up. As it ramps up, we're sold out all the way up to the maximum nameplate. And so we'll continue to see that perform.
Operator
operatorOur next question comes from the line of Tristan Richardson with Scotiabank.
Tristan Richardson
analystJust curious, Jim, you mentioned discussions with new international customers that maybe you haven't had relationships with before in the past. Should we think of these incremental customers is largely around filling export expansions currently underway? Or would these potential relationships be for further expansion to your export capacity down the road?
A. Teague
executiveWe signed that contract yesterday. Okay. you're about ready to execute it. one that we're going to execute. I think we've -- we had one large one. I think it was 200,000 barrels a day that we executed recently. And we're in discussions with at least 2 more, Doug. 4 more. And our guys are headed to Asia for an extended trip here not too long. So I guess it's both what we've built and what we expect to sign.
Tristan Richardson
analystAnd then maybe, Randy, just curious, as we've now seen PDH come online and frac 12 commission as well as a processing plant. I know it's too early to talk about 2024 capital but just thinking about the potential for this elevated spend for these large and critical projects, kind of coming to a conclusion in '23 such that '24 could be lower than '23?
W. Fowler
executiveYes. Tristan, on that, certainly getting PDH 2 completed. That was a big capital project. But when we come in and see the opportunities just in and around our system, I think, frankly, we're going to be in that $2 billion, $2.5 billion range for the next 2 to 3 years. And some of that, I'll have to say that 2% to 2.5% really is still excluding spot, which is still going through the licensing process. But we're just seeing a lot of good activity, a lot of good growth opportunities across the system.
Operator
operatorOur next question comes from the line of Spiro Dounis with Citi.
Spiro Dounis
analystI actually want to go back to that a little bit, if we could, just on capital allocation. So I guess, on my math, I think you still have you guys generating about 10% to 15% of operating cash flow that's sort of unspoken for over the next few years even with spot in there as well. So just curious at your latest thoughts on preferred ways to allocate that capital given your leverage levels are really already at sector lows.
W. Fowler
executiveYes, Spiro. I think it comes back to really what you've seen out of us in the last 2 or 3 years, it's sort of all of the above. Certainly, in the last year, 1.5 years, we've picked back up on the cadence of our distribution growth and again, that seems like the most direct way to return capital to our partners is through distribution bumps. But I think we'll continue to come in and sort of use all the above.
Spiro Dounis
analystYes. Fair enough. Second question on Shin Oak. And Jim, I'll preface this question is I know you're going to expand Shin Oak at some point, but I also know you've talked about short-term bridging solutions to get there. Just curious if you guys have any updated thoughts on that.
W. Fowler
executiveI've got a lot of thoughts on that this year. I was in a 2-hour meeting yesterday with Brent and Justin. So you can imagine what it's like spending 2 hours with Brent and just in looking at all of our options. And our options could be, we'll add another line called -- what are we calling that Bahir. We could personally loop Shin Oak and take seminal out of NGL service. The bottom line is we have to have more takeaway out of the Permian and I guess I've got to have another 2 or 3 hours with Justin and Brent will come up with a solution.
Operator
operatorOur next question comes from the line of Jeremy Tonet with JPMorgan Securities.
Jeremy Tonet
analystJust wanted to start off with some of the NGL dynamics as you talked about before, I think you mentioned how the ethane prices have been volatile as a plate. I'm just wondering if you see that as kind of logistics constraints given heat in Texas or otherwise, and I guess future outlook for ethane and propane prices at this point given the volatility that we've seen recently?
A. Teague
executiveDoug or Brent?
Brent Secrest
executiveOn ethane, I think what you saw last month is when nominations were due for ethane recoveries, the forward curve probably said not to recover. So you saw a bunch of ethane get projected in the Permian Basin. You couple that with some operational issues on various plants across the entire basin. There was some frac rates that were lower than normal, and that made ethane very, very tight. I think if you look out forward, I think some of that volatility is going to suppress and I think we get back to probably more of a normal type ratio between ethane and natural gas, but there was a culmination of factors that caused that.
A. Teague
executiveGraham turn on you, mic. We worry about plants going down in the winter. What's 103 temperature. Certainly, there's some challenges with that, but I wouldn't say it's been a material impact on our operating rates. We generally design for those conditions.
Brent Secrest
executiveWhat about others?
A. Teague
executiveI can't speak for others.
Brent Secrest
executiveWell, I'm trying to get you to that.
W. Fowler
executiveAnd then just real quick on propane. When you look at just overall global demand. I think we've had 4 PDH plants come up in China. So far this year, there's 11 other PDH plants scheduled to come online for the balance of this year. I mean if you say 100% capacity factor, that's another 250,000 barrels a day. Those plants aren't running at those higher rates, but call it, 65% to 70%. It will certainly put another bid under propane, just a matter how fast production comes online. I would hope that we've seen the bottom on propane. That's my hope.
A. Teague
executiveIf not, it will still price to export, right?
W. Fowler
executiveThat's right.
Jeremy Tonet
analystAnd just as we look going forward here, we keep seeing enterprises leverage dipping down below 3 and just wondering if that trend continues, what should we expect at that point. Leverage just continues to decline or I think $2 billion to $2.5 billion of CapEx next year? Could that increase? Or just any other thoughts in general on capital allocation?
W. Fowler
executiveYes, Jeremy, again, we're sort of in the middle of our range at 3.0x and I think, again, the team is really bringing in some good commercial opportunities. We think growth CapEx would be $2 billion, $2.5 billion. And again, as I mentioned earlier, that is without spot. And so I think we would just like to see it develop as far as returning capital. I said, we picked up the pace on distribution growth, still doing some buybacks. Balance sheet is in great shape. And Jeremy, I guess, just staying in a position that a lot of opportunities come along, and we just want to be in a good position to execute on.
Operator
operatorOur next question comes from the line of Jean Salisbury with Bernstein.
Jean Ann Salisbury
analystHas the scope changed a bit for the Beaumont export terminal. It looks like from the slides, you're adding propane exports there.
A. Teague
executiveYou're pretty observing. Go ahead, Tug?
Tug Hanley
executiveAll right. So yes, the scope has changed on that. We previously announced a 120,000 barrel a day ethane train at Beaumont. And now what we're doing is we're proceeding with that train in addition to a 180,000 barrel a day ethane train that can also do up to 360,000 barrels a day of propane. So we're not adding any additional ethane only capacity adding what we would like to call flex capacity. We're doing that in lieu of our Rev expansion, and we're opting for a much smaller taper project at our Ship Channel facility to increase our butane loading rates and allow for fully refrigerated PGP.
A. Teague
executiveSo Jean, in my script, I said multiproduct and flexibility. Tug can go to somebody and say, "Look, you can take 3 tanks of ethane and a tank of ethylene or you can take 3 tanks of methane and a tank of propane or vice versa. So we're trying to get fixed at where those things will always be full, but not necessarily of the same product. Butane, propylene, ethane, ethylene, you name it.
Jean Ann Salisbury
analystAnd then if the Acadian expansion running full already and maybe more broadly, in your opinion, is Haynesville just completely full on gas takeaway as new pipes come on?
Natalie Gayden
executiveJean, this is Natalie. Haynesville, for us, our Acadian extension is full. Gas continues to produce in the -- even on our gathering systems, we're getting more and more gas every day.
Operator
operatorOur next question comes from the line of Colton Bean with TPH & Co.
Colton Bean
analystJust shifting back to the backlog. On the expected 24% growth capital range, Randy, I think you outlined the $2 billion to $2.5 billion. Currently improved projects look to be closer to $1.4 billion. So can you just characterize the type of projects that you're expecting to reach FID on and then the hurdles you would need to clear to move those projects into the official backlog?
W. Fowler
executiveYes. Brent, do you want to take some of this because on the front line of it.
Brent Secrest
executiveYes. I mean just to generalize this Colton, I think everything is going to be centered around the Permian Basin. So whether that's an NGL pipe solution, whether that's processing plants or whether that's an additional fractionator, it's going to be all set around Permian production growth.
Colton Bean
analystGot it. So effectively all from supply chain. Makes sense. And then on the operations side, it looks like Midland processing earnings were relatively flat Q-on-Q despite the lower NGL pricing. So have we effectively reached fee floors for the acquired system at this point?
Brent Secrest
executiveYes.
Operator
operatorNext question comes from the line of Keith Stanley with Wolfe Research.
Keith Stanley
analystI wanted to start on spot. Just any update on commercial momentum and remaining permitting process and how soon you could conceivably get to an FID on that project?
A. Teague
executiveI think we should have our license to construct Graham in September, October. That's where it's trending right now. Everything is going well right now in the licensing stage, and we're expecting within the next few months. In terms of -- I mean, we're traveling in the world on spot. We have a laser focus on getting customers on spot. And I think we will, and I believe we'll end up building it.
Keith Stanley
analystAnd that could be by next year even to be starting construction on that, do you think?
W. Fowler
executiveWell, Tug and Brent would get off a rear in and get to Asia and see everybody, we'll probably be sooner rather than later, but we're going to commercialize this thing and we've got meetings. Brent and I are going to Europe later this month, Brent?
Brent Secrest
executiveSeptember.
W. Fowler
executiveIn September. And the focus is on spot. We're pulling out all things to get it done.
Keith Stanley
analystAnd second question is just on the year overall. So the project $9.3 billion target for EBITDA, you did $4.5 million in the first half but as you pointed out a lot, you have a lot of major projects starting up. Commodities are improving. Just any updated thoughts on how you're feeling on that target, things that need to go right, areas where you may have cushion, et cetera?
A. Teague
executiveI say this every time. That's not guidance, but it's a goal, and we reward all of our employees if we hit that goal. And somebody asked on one earnings call, have we ever had a goal that we didn't meet. We're bound and determined that our employees are going to be rewarded by meeting 9.3 goal. What's going to help us, I think, is if you talk to Tony, I mean, crude prices, I don't know what they're doing today, Tony, but they've been up $10 in the last 30 days. The balances are tight. All of our plants are full, the key, and Graham knows this. I think the key is keep the plants running because we will capitalize on any volatility.
Operator
operatorOur next question comes from the line of Brian Reynolds with UBS.
Brian Reynolds
analystJust talk on the crude business, it seems to be finding its footing in terms of margin opportunity for the first time since COVID. So curious if you could just opine on whether you're seeing incremental barrels and opportunity come back to Houston as Corpus remains full. And if we continue to see green shoots into the back half of '23.
A. Teague
executiveI think in my script, what I said is we set a record loading crude on the ships in the month of July. And yes, Brent, I think you're seeing barrels move [ on it towards east ]. Brent, before you answer that, but also talk about our quality improvements across the system.
Brent Secrest
executiveI think fundamentally, we believe in Tony's production numbers as we go forward. We do think that the Corpus pipelines are full. We think that what we've done on our system as it relates to quality, has brought more interest and I do think when we speak to our customers, they want a bigger and bigger position in Houston. So I think over time -- and the other piece on this is not all pipelines are created equal. There's other pipelines that go to Houston or go to Beaumont that are more challenged than our integrated crude pipelines. So I think we're going to be the beneficiary of the volumes going forward. Yes. I mean just you being able to deliver data Brent and what we've done on our system. You're seeing the open interest on that contract continue to go up. We've set records in the last couple of weeks on daily traded volume. I think ICE had a press release recently went through some of those details. But all this just put together lent itself to more interest in trying to get to Houston on our pipelines.
A. Teague
executiveI'm not supposed to ask questions, but I will anyone Where's Jay? How many of your cargoes have met dated Brent specs.
James Bany
executiveSince we implemented the new quality specification mimicking the plate spec we've met every one of our export cargoes have met that specification since we adopted it in May.
Brian Reynolds
analystAnd maybe to just touch a little bit on M&A. Commentary coming out of the Analyst Day, I made it seemed like it was coming or attractive for Enterprise but with nothing year-to-date and EPD continuing to maintain its high bar for returns. Just kind of curious if you could just give us a forward-looking update on potential M&A appetite or whether other uses of capital could impact the use of M&A going forward?
A. Teague
executiveOne of the things about building plants is you could build them where you want them. And that's what I love about building all these plants in the Permian, and we're probably not through building a fractionator where you want it. That's my color but Randy, is the one you should ask.
W. Fowler
executiveYes, make me want to go back and reread our transcripts from the Analyst Day. I didn't know we were that bullish on M&A. But again, we'll take a look at opportunities that come up. We're in every banker's Rolodex. So we get an opportunity to take a look but I can't say that we're predisposed to come in and jump on M&A if it makes sense, a good return on capital. And if it fits the system dovetails in. I think that's one discipline that we've had over the years. It's not building a collection of assets, but coming in and actually ties in and bolts on to our system and provides downstream or upstream opportunities. We'll continue to look at that.
Operator
operatorOur next question comes from the line of Michael Blum with Wells Fargo.
Michael Blum
analystI wanted to go back to, I think in the opening comments, you made, you touched on this a little bit, but I wanted to ask just specifically how you're seeing China demand right now as it relates to NGLs and where you think that's headed?
Brent Secrest
executiveYes, Michael, this is Brent. If you look at -- and let's take LPGs first that came from our terminal, in first quarter, that number was 24% of our volumes went to China. Second quarter, we averaged 38%. So when we go back and talk about those PDH plants, I think that's some effect right there. And then when you go to ethane, first quarter it was about 33%, second quarter, 26% went to China, what Tug's been doing on ethane contracts. I think you'll see that number go up on what's going to China.
Michael Blum
analystAnd then I just have like a broad question on drilling activity. Are there any regions you'd highlight we were just seeing a change in either rate activity or messaging from producers, either up or down?
Tony Chovanec
executiveYes. This is Tony, Michael. We're in the middle of earnings season, and producers are reporting. But if you look at think Exxon, think Chevron, Diamondback reported today, everybody is saying the same thing. They continue to see drilling and completion efficiencies and not by a little. They are seeing cost mitigation and predicting depending on where they are in the value chain, some amount of even deflation on costs, so better returns. When you look at the longer laterals are key to what they're doing, cube development, I mean, the producer continues to get even more and more efficient. So we look at it all the time. We talk about it. We talk about it with each of our producers. It's been difficult to look at the EIA numbers and try to figure out what production is doing, but I can tell you that we're on target for our own numbers to be in the 500,000 to 700,000 barrel a day range increase year into year-end. And I watch what the producers are saying during the second quarter, no one has a bad story. Everybody is very, very upbeat. On top of that, I guess, last but not least, our own calculation or DUCs or they continue to grow. So not only are things going well for them, but they're building a significant amount of headroom.
Michael Blum
analystWhat about Haynesville?
Tony Chovanec
executiveHaynesville rigs. Let's look at completions there. Frac crews in the Haynesville went from, call it, 15 to 18 down at a point to 7. They're back up to around 14 today. And if you look at the forward curve, the forward curve says Haynesville drillers should keep filling that they have value there. So it is the world is now watching it as that variable basin in the United States for natural gas production that you go, I'm just going to use some generic numbers. It can go up 2 Bcf or it can go down 2 Bcf. And that's a 4 Bcf swing over in about an 18-month period. That's what you've seen through the cycles in Haynesville.
Operator
operatorNext question comes from the line of Neal Dingmann with Truist Securities.
Neal Dingmann
analystMy first question is on Permian processing margins given Waha pricing. I'm just wondering, how do you see the margins going forward, including the impact from your feed floors?
W. Fowler
executiveWe think it will be better in the second half. It weren't great in the first half. Is that fair?
Neal Dingmann
analystIt's fair.
Brent Secrest
executiveI think the trend, if you model out the forward curve, which is a good thing on the percent that hits the floor, it gets a lot less.
Neal Dingmann
analystOkay. And then second, just on the marine exports on the LPG and ethane, I think you all previously mentioned strong demand. And Jim, I think you even mentioned, I think it was around 240,000 barrels a day of new contracts. Is this still expectations? Or are you seeing kind of production continue to grow in this area?
A. Teague
executiveI think if you look at what we're doing, it kind of tells you what we believe. What we're doing is expanding our ability to export across the hydrocarbons chain. So yes, we believe if Tony is running here somebody's house board, I guess, but that's what I would.
Operator
operatorOur next question comes from the line of Neel Mitra with Bank of America.
Indraneel Mitra
analystI wanted to ask your exposure to spot ethane prices. Were you able to sell spot ethane out of maybe some of your purity storage in Mont Belvieu to downstream players and benefit from that? And conversely, did you have any downstream obligations like possibly being short on Morgan's point because of outages? Just wanted to see how that would kind of play out for 3Q now that we have a full month with prices over $0.30 a gallon.
A. Teague
executiveOne of the most valuable assets we have is our storage. And yes, we were able to take advantage of the volatility on that thing. And no, we were no issues would be in short at Morgan voter anywhere else.
Indraneel Mitra
analystAnd then second question. We started the year off in the first quarter with very high LPG exports and I know we're seasonally weaker in the second quarter. When does that seasonality start to pick up so that it's a benefit again for the second half of the year?
A. Teague
executiveTug take it. I mean what's our export volume.
Tug Hanley
executiveYes, we're going to be a little bit soft in the month of August.
A. Teague
executiveWhat do you call it soft? 18 million barrels?
Tug Hanley
executiveYes, right around there. But around September, I mean, we're fully booked up. And then I'll just note as well that we are seeing DAC margins increase, specifically in the month of August and September 4.
Operator
operatorI'm currently showing no further questions at this time. I'd like to hand the conference back over to Mr. Randy Burkhalter for closing remarks.
John Burkhalter
executiveThank you, Norma. I think that covers it pretty well. I don't have any closing remarks. I'd just like to thank everybody for joining us today and for our call, and have a good day. Goodbye now.
Operator
operatorThis concludes today's conference call. Thank you for your participation. You may now disconnect. Everyone, have a wonderful day.
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Programmatic access to Enterprise Products Partners L.P. earnings transcripts and 32,000+ others is available through the
EarningsCalls.dev REST API. Plans from $24.99/month — full transcripts, speaker segments,
full-text search, and the recently-added /api/v1/transcripts/recent polling endpoint for ETL pipelines.